ibraw 

OF  THE 


Heliotype  Printing  Co- 


Boston. 


LAURA  DEWEY  BRIDGMAN,  1878. 


LIFE  AND  EDUCATION 


OP 


LAURA  DEWEY  BRIDGMAN, 


THE  DEAE,  DUMB,  AND  BLIND  GIRL. 


By  MARY  SWIFT  LAMSON. 


BOSTON: 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY, 

©be  Etberst&e  Press,  Cambrige. 

1884. 


OOPTKIGHT, 

37  NEW  ENGLAND  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

A.  D,  1878. 


ct  C I ' 


1>  *52  t 


HTTEODU  CTION . 


■J 

d 

4 

Sk 


'X 


The  author  and  editor  of  the  present  volume  was  a 
teacher  for  five  years  in  the  “ Perkins  Institution  and 
Massachusetts  Asylum  for  the  Blind.”  She  was  for  three 
years  the  special  instructor  of  Laura  Bridgman,  and  had 
the  honor  of  giving  the  first  lesson  to  Oliver  Caswell 
another  blind  and  deaf  mute  at  the  Asylum.  She  differed 
from  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Howe,  the  director  of  the  Asylum, 
in  regard  to  the  time  of  commencing  the  religious  educa- 
tion of  Laura ; but  she  held  him  in  high  esteem  as  an 
enterprising,  skilful,  and  persevering  instuctor.  He 
characterized  her  in  words  like  Ibe  following  : She  is  *a 
lady  of  great  intelligence  who  is  devotedly  attached  to 
[Laura]  ; “ an  able  and  excellent  teacher,”  who  “ ful- 
filled her  duty  with  ability  and  conscientiousness  ; has 
been  faithful  and  industrious  ; and  in  the  intellectual  in- 
struction she  has  shown  great  tact  and  ability  u indeed 
to  Miss  Swift  [now  Mrs.  Lamson]  and  Miss  Wight  [now 
Mrs  Bond]  belong,  far  more  than  to  any  other  persons, 
the  pure  satisfaction  of  having  been  instrumental  in  the 
beautiful  development  of  Laura’s  character.”  * 

One  noteworthy  advantage  has  been  enjoyed  by  the 
editor  of  this  volume.  She  has  retained  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  Laura  Bridgman  for  thirty  seven  years. 

* Annual  Reports  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Perkins  Institution  and 
Massachusetts  Asylum  for  the  Blind,  XI,  p.  37  ; XIII,  pp.  23,  24  ; 
XIV,  p.  30,  etc.,  etc.  These  documents  will  be  hereafter  alluded 
to  simply  as  Annual  Reports. 


d 


847813 


IV 


INTRODUCTION 


The  blind  deaf-mute  was  only  in  tt  e thirteenth  year  of 
her  age,  and  in  the  third  year  of  her  residence  at  the 
Asylum,  when  she  was  put  under  the  particular  and 
almost  exclusive  charge  of  Mrs.  Lamson,  and  from  that 
day  to  this  has  been  accustomed  to  communicate  her 
thoughts  freely  to  the  teacher  who  instructed  her  in 
1840.  The  editor  of  the  volume  has  thus  been  able  to 
compare  the  later  with  the  earlier  development  of  Laura. 
Laura  herself  is  liable  to  forget  those  earlier  develop- 
ments, to  mistake  her  more  recently  acquired  knowledge 
for  that  which  she  had  acquired  at  a remoter  period. 
The  ideas,  however,  which  she  expressed  in  the  initial 
stages  of  her  education  were  recorded  day  by  day , and  the 
testimony  of  a written  journal  is  far  more  trustworthy 
than  that  of  the  memory. 

This  volume  has  a special  value  in  the  fact  that  it  pre- 
serves the  style  of  the  original  diary  ; it  records  the  prog- 
ress of  Laura  in  detail,  just  as  the  progress  was,  without 
any  attempt  to  embellish  the  history;  without  any  attempt 
to  magnify  the  excellences  or  to  conceal  the  foibles  of  the 
blind  deaf-mute;  without  any  other  generalizations  than 
those  which  were  forced  upon  the  notice  of  an  instructor 
writing  for  her  own  private  use;  without  any  theory  to 
defend  or  to  impugn;  without  any  foresight  of  any  use 
which  might  afterward  be  made  of  her  honest  record.  It 
would  have  been  easy  to  write  a sensational  narrative  of 
so  unique  a person  as  Laura  Bridgman,  and  to  cluster 
splendid  panegyrics  around  a few  salient  points  of  her 
character.  To  many  readers  such  a rhapsodical  style 
would  have  been  more  interesting  than  the  record  of  the 
daily  routine  of  her  childish  questions  and  tardy  acquisi- 
tions. This  homely  record,  however,  of  blunders  and  slow 
progress  is  more  readily  credited,  is  more  valuable  to  the 
philosopher,  and  more  practically  useful  to  the  common 
mind,  than  would  have  been  the  most  brilliant  descrip- 
tions of  isolated  facts  in  Laura’s  life.  The  wheat  including 


INTRODUCTION . 


V 


the  alcohol  is  m Dre  wholesome  than  the  alcohol  distilled 
from  the  wheat. 

The  narratives  of  Jean  Massieu  leave  us  in  an  incredu- 
lous slate  of  mind,  in  consequence  of  the  fact  that  his 
marvellous  exploits  are  recorded  without  a sufficiently 
copious  detail  of  the  processes  which  fitted  him  to  perform 
them.  Six  children  of  his  parents,  three  hoys  and  three 
girls,  were,  like  himself,  congenital  deaf-mutes.  lie  was 
born  in  1772  and  died  in  1846.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  and  nine  months,  without  having  exhibited  any  sign 
of  eminent  talents,  he  became  a pupil  of  the  Abb6  Sicard. 
He  doubtless  acquired  a great  power  of  mind;  but  we  are 
apt  to  overrate  his  genius  and  to  receive  on  the  whole  a 
false  impression,  when  we  read  of  his  bright  sayings,  and 
do  not  read  of  the  dull  performances  intermingled  with 
them.  It  seems  improbable  that  any  deaf-mute  could 
habitually,  and  without  distinctive  preparation,  give  such 
answers  as  Massieu  is  reported  to  have  given  in  some  of 
his  school  exercises.  We  suspect  that  some  of  his  answers 
were  (like  the  brilliant  remarks  of  many  a modern  deaf- 
mute)  the  remembered  utterances  of  his  instructors.  If 
original,  they  were  exceptional. 

The  following  is  one  specimen  of  them:  “What  is  a 
revolution?  ” [a  question  asked  in  the  time  of  the  French 
Reign  of  Terror.]  “It  is  a tree  whose  roots  have  taken 
the  place  of  its  trunk.”  — “ What  is  gratitude  ? ” “ Grati- 
tude is  the  memory  of  the  heart.”  — u What  is  hope  ? ” 
“ Hope  is  the  blossom  of  happiness.”  — What  is  the  dif- 
ference between  hope  and  desire  ? ” “ Desire  is  a tree  in 
leaf  ; hope  is  a tree  in  flower  ; and  enjoyment  is  a tree  in 
fruit.”  — “ What  is  eternity  ? ” “A  day  without  yester- 
day or  to-morrow;  a line  that  has  no  ends.” — “ What 
is  time  ? ” “ A line  that  has  two  ends  ; a path  which  be- 
gins in  the  cradle  and  ends  in  the  tomb.” — “What  is 
God  ? ” u The  necessary  being,  the  sun  of  eternity,  the 
mechanist  of  nature,  the  eye  of  justice,  the  watchmaker 


VI 


INTRODUCTION . 


of  the  universe,  the  soul  of  the  world.”  — “Does  God 
reason  ? ” [a  question  proposed  to  Massieu  by  Sir  James 
Mackintosh.]  “ Man  reasons  because  he  doubts  ; he  de- 
liberates, he  decides.  God  is  omniscient ; he  knows  all 
things  ; he  never  doubts  ; he  therefore  never  reasons.” 

We  do  not  claim  that  Laura  Bridgman  has  a genius  equal 
to  that  of  Massieu  ; but  we  do  not  deem  it  impossible  to  cull 
out  from  her  conversation,  as  recorded  in  the  present  vol- 
ume, such  remarks  as  would  keep  the  reader  in  a state  of 
constant  surprise  at  her  sagacity.  These  isolated  remarks 
would  attract  more  admiration  but  would  yield  less  in- 
struction than  they  do  now.  A few  specimens  of  fruits, 
at  a horticultural  fair,  may  make  an  entirely  erroneous 
impression  in  regard  to  the  substantial  produce  of  the 
garden. 

The  earliest  notice  which  I have  seen  of  Laura  Bridg- 
man is  from  the  pen  of  that  excellent  and  eminent  man, 
Dr.  Reuben  Dimond  Mussey,  Professor  of  Anatomy  and 
Surgery  at  Dartmouth  College.  His  letter  is  important 
because  it  was  written  six  months  before  the  blind  deaf- 
mute  entered  the  asylum  at  Boston,  and  because  it  gives 
suggestive  information  in  regard  to  her  natural  capabilities 
and  her  early  moral  developments.  As  the  first  home  of 
Laura  was  at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  the  seat  of  Dartmouth 
College,  the  character  of  herself  and  family  could  be 
easily  learned  by  Prof.  Mussey,  and  so  careful  an  ob- 
server as  he  would  not  have  placed  undue  reliance  on 
their  testimony.  The  letter  * was  written  in  reply  to  one  / 
received  from  a distinguished  instructor  of  the  deaf  and 
dumb,  and  is  as  follows:  — 

Hanover,  N.  H.,  April  14,  1837. 

Dear  Sir:  The  blind  and  deaf  child,  referred  to  in  your 
letter  received  this  morning,  is,  I presume,  the  same  who 

* It  was  published  in  the  Twenty-first  Report  of  the  American 
Asylum,  at  Hartford,  etc.,  pp.  41,  42. 


INTRODUCTION. 


vn 


lives  within  this  township,  seven  miles  from  our  village. 
I have  ridden  out  to-day  and  passed  an  hour  at  her  father’s, 
and  have  obtained  from  her  parents  the  following  particu- 
lars : — 

Her  name  is  Laura  D.  Bridgman;  seven  years  old;  a 
girl  of  middling  stature  for  her  age,  and  of  a pretty  uni- 
form health.  When  about  two  years  old  she  lost  her 
hearing  altogether,  and  all  distinctness  of  vision,  by  scarlet 
fever.  She  has  never  [since]  given  evidence  of  hearing  any 
sort  of  sound,  but  she  can  perceive  light  enough  to  enable 
her  to  tell  where  the  windows  are  during  the  day,  and  is 
attracted  by  a lighted  taper  at  evening.  A white  cloth  or 
a sheet  of  white  paper,  placed  near  to  her  right  eye  so  as 
to  reflect  a strong  light,  engages  her  attention;  so  does 
the  hand,  waved  from  side  to  side  between  her  eye  and 
the  window.  The  left  eye  is  wholly  destroyed.  A scarlet 
colored  cloth  put  into  her  hand  seemed  to  make  a slight 
impression,  as  if  she  received  the  feeblest  notion  of  color 
from  it.  After  she  was  somewhat  fatigued,  however,  I 
placed  a sheet  of  white  paper  before  her  eye  and  moved 
it  from  side  to  side  several  times,  evidently  without  her 
being  conscious  of  it.  She  has,  probably,  no  reminiscence 
of  sounds  or  of  visual  objects  from  impressions  received 
before  the  attack  of  scarlet  fever.  She  was  considered  by 
her  parents  as  unusually  intelligent  before  her  sickness, 
and  is  still  so  regarded  by  them.  Specimens  of  her  knit- 
ting and  sewing  were  shown  me  which  looked  very  well. 
Much  of  her  time  is  employed  in  knitting;  indeed,  she  is 
uneasy  when  out  of  employment,  and  if  allowed  would 
attempt  to  do  most  kinds  of  work  in  the  house  which  she 
finds  others  doing.  She  sets  the  dinner-table,  laying  the 
plates  and  knives  and  forks  in  their  places  and  in  number 
corresponding  with  the  number  of  the  family.  The  par- 
ticular plate  and  knife  and  fork  used  by  her  little  brother 
she  is  sure  to  put  in  the  right  place. 

Her  fondness  for  dress  is  as  remarkable  as  that  of  an^ 


viij 


INTRODUCTION. 


child  that  can  see.  New  clothes  give  her  great  pleasure. 
She  knows  every  article  of  dress  belonging  to  her  mother, 
and  is  gratified  when  her  mother  puts  on  her  best  dresses. 
She  is  as  fond  of  society  as  of  dress,  and  is  most  untiring 
in  her  exercises  with  her  playmates. 

A silver  pencil-case,  for  the  first  time,  was  handed  her 
to-day,  while  I was  present.  She  very  soon  learned  to 
unscrew  and  replace  the  head-piece,  and  the  part  contain- 
ing the  lead.  This  was  a new  thing,  which  clearly  gave 
her  great  pleasure,  as  she  occasionally  smiled,  and  had  her 
whole  attention  absorbed  with  it  for  some  time. 

She  is  kind  and  affectionate  in  her  disposition  ; with  her 
two  brothers  younger  than  she,  the  only  children  of  the 
family  besides  herself,  she  is  always  ready  to  divide  fruit 
or  any  other  pleasant  eatable  which  is  presented  to  her. 
Her  resentments  are  keen,  but  transitory,  and  her  parents 
can  easily  persuade  her  by  patting  her  head  to  submit  to 
their  direction.  Her  mother  says  that  in  this  way  the 
child  can  be  induced  to  take  the  most  disgusting  medi- 
cines, as  rhubarb,  tincture  of  aloes,  etc. 

Her  sense  of  smell  is  thought  by  her  mother  to  be  less 
acute  than  that  of  other  children,  as  she  very  seldom 
applies  an  odorous  substance  to  her  nose  ; it  is  not  im- 
probable that  this  sense  may  have  been  impaired  by  the 
fever.  The  senses  of  taste  and  of  touch,  which  last  is 
very  acute,  appear  to  be  the  only  inlets  of  knowledge, 
with  the  exception  of  the  extremely  dim  vision  before 
mentioned,  which  is  too  imperfect  to  enable  her  to  avoid 
objects  even  in  a strong  light. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

E.  D.  Mussey. 

This  letter  of  Professor  Mussey  is  more  significant  than 
it  may  appear  to  be  at  first  sight.  When  he  speaks  of  the 
sense  of  touch  (which  was,  in  fact,  Laura’s  main  organ 
for  communication  with  the  material  world),  he  doubtless 


INTRODUCTION. 


ix 


includes  not  merely  the  “ touch  proper,”  but  also  the 
capacity  for  the  “ acute  ” sensations,  pleasant  or  painful ; 
also  for  the  sensations  of  pressure  and  weight,  of  tempera- 
ture ; also  for  the  “muscular  sensations,”  those  of  the 
rough,  smooth,  slippery,  adhesive,  elastic,  non-elastic, 
etc.  ; all  those  sensations  which  are  commonly  assigned 
to  the  touch  in  its  general  and  loose  meaning.  From  the 
Professor’s  suggestive  letter  it  appears  that  Laura  Bridg- 
man retained  her  power  of  vision,  hearing,  taste,  and  smell 
until  she  was  “ about  [in  actual  fact  she  was  a little 
more  than]  two  years  old”;  that  she  retained  a power  of 
indistinct  vision  until  she  was  over  seven  years  old;  that 
her  parents  had  noticed  her  deficiency  in  the  sense  of 
smell,  but  had  not  noticed  her  deficiency  in  the  sense  of 
taste,  after  she  had  become  a deaf-mute.  She  was  easily 
persuaded  to  take  “ the  most  disgusting  medicines.”  Dr. 
Mussey  does  not  appear  to  have  suspected  the  cause. 
When  she  came, to  the  Boston  Asylum  she  was  unable,  at 
least  occasionally,  to  distinguish  rhubarb  from  tea  by  the 
taste.  Still,  the  power  of  this  sense,  as  that  of  smell, 
seems  to  have  been  somewhat  variable.  In  her  fifteenth 
year  she  could,  at  certain  times,  distinguish  certain 
articles  of  food  by  smelling  them.  At  particular  periods 
she  detected  the  fragrance  of  a flower.  When  we  read, 
as  we  sometimes  do,  that  “ from  her  tenderest  infancy  she 
could  neither  smell,  taste,  hear,  nor  see,”  we  must  qualify 
the  remark  ; it  is  convenient  but  not  strictly  accurate  ; it 
must  be  explained  to  mean  that  soon  after  she  entered  on 
her  third  year  she  lost  entirely  her  sense  of  hearing 
(therefore  her  power  of  speaking^,  and  in  large  measure 
her  sense  of  taste  and  that  of  smell ; that  after  the  be- 
ginning of  her  eighth  year  she  lost  entirely  her  sense 
of  sight,  and  this  had  been  so  indistinct  as  to  be  compara- 
tively useless  after  the  beginning  of  her  third  year. 

In  several  particulars,  then,  her  case  is  unique.  It  is 
not  very  uncommon  for  deaf-mutes  to  have  an  impaired 


X 


INTRODUCTION. 


sense  of  taste  and  also  of  smell.  Both  of  these  senses  arc 
so  connected  with  the  sense  of  hearing  that  the  same 
cause  which  disorders  the  latter  may  disorder  also  the  two 
former.  Often  the  Swiss  cretin  is  not  only  unable  to 
speak  and  to  hear,  but  is  also  unable  to  taste  and  to  smell 
as  accurately  or  as  keenly  as  other  persons.  The  cretin, 
however,  is  deficient  in  intellect,  as  Laura  Bridgman  is 
not. 

The  loss  of  vision  alone  is  not  generally  attended  with 
an  impaired  sense  of  taste,  and  is  often  attended  with  an 
unusual  keenness  in  the  sense  of  smell.  Perhaps  there 
has  never  been  another  instance  than  this  of  Laura  Bridg- 
man in  which  the  loss  of  sight  has  been  combined  with 
the  entire  loss  of  hearing  and  also  with  a loss  of  two  other 
senses.  Probably  there  have  been  more  instances  than 
are  recorded  in  which  the  loss  of  sight  has  been  combined 
with  deafness  and  dumbness.  Perhaps  the  great  majority 
of  blind  deaf-mutes  have  been  destroyed  by  the  neglect 
or  the  violence  of  their  relatives.  In  ancient  legal  treat- 
ises they  are  recognized  as  idiots.  Dr.  Howe  quotes* 
from  Blackstone's  Commentaries  the  following  passage  : 
UA  man  is  not  an  idiot,  if  he  hath  any  glimmerings  of 
reason  so  that  he  can  tell  his  parents,  his  age,  or  the  like 
matters.  But  a man  who  is  born  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  is 
looked  upon  by  the  law  as  in  the  same  state  with  an  idiot ; 
he  being  supposed  incapable  of  any  understanding,  as 
wanting  all  those  senses  which  furnish  the  human  mind 
with  ideas.” 

Modern  history  has  given  us  a more  or  less  particular 
account  of  at  least  fifteen  persons  who  have  lived  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind.  It  is  rather  remarkable  that  the  cele- 
brated Abbe  de  l’Epee  had  never  heard  of  one  such  per- 
son. Still,  supposing  it  possible  that  individuals  should 
be  born  unable  either  to  see  or  to  hear,  he  contrived  a 


* In  Annual  Beport,  IX,  pp.  31,  35. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XI 


process  of  educating  them.  The  process,  although  de- 
scribed more  than  a hundred  years  ago,  reminds  us  of  the 
method  in  which  Laura  Bridgman  was  instructed.  The 
blind  deaf-mute  was  to  have  an  alphabet  of  polished  steel  • 
the  letters  composing  the  name  of  some  sensible  object 
were  to  be  felt  by  the  fingers  of  one  hand,  while  the  object 
itself  was  to  be  felt  by  the  fingers  of  the  other.  The  il- 
lustrious M.  Sicard,  who  was  the  successor  of  the  Abbe  de 
l’Epee  in  the  office  of  instructing  the  deaf  and  dumb,  pro- 
posed that  if  the  blind  deaf-mute  were  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing any  particular  article,  it  should  be  withheld  from  him 
until  he  had  spelled  the  name  of  it.  He  should  not  taste 
the  peach  or  the  plum  until  he  had  arranged  the  letters 
composing  those  words.  The  blind  deaf-mutes  in  the 
Boston  Asylum  were  occasionally  stimulated  by  the  same 
appeals  to  their  appetite.  In  this  way  Laura  Bridgman 
would  sometimes  attempt  to  instruct  some  other  pupil 
who  could  neither  see  nor  hear  Ihe  name  of  the  desired 
edible.  She  demanded  the  letters  of  the  word  cake  be- 
fore she  would  give  the  cake  to  the  blind  and  deaf  learner. 
It  is  substantially  an  old  custom,  pursued  by  parents  with 
their  children  and  by  children  with  each  other.  Indeed, 
there  have  been  “ select  schools,”  where  the  scholars  were 
taught  their  letters  by  the  use  of  a gingerbread  alphabet, 
which  was  to  be  devoured  as  soon  as  its  literary  signifi- 
cance had  been  thoroughly  digested.  We  strangely  forget 
that  the  deaf-mutes  and  the  blind  deaf-mutes  are  human 
beings  and  are  to  be  treated  as  other  human  beings;  they 
are  influenced  by  the  same  motives  which  affect  the  race 
in  general,  and  are  to  be  educated  on  the  same  principles 
which  regulate  the  education  of  ordinary  scholars.  The 
special  difficulty  is  in  opening  an  avenue  to  their  minds. 
When  we  have  once  penetrated  the  wall  which  has  sepa- 
rated them  from  us,  there  is  no  more  real  mystery  in  teach- 
ing them  than  in  teaching  other  persons.  There  is  a mys- 
tery in  the  mental  progress  of  every  child  : in  the  menta. 


xii 


INTRODUCTION. 


progress  of  the  blind  deaf-mute  the  mystery  is  greater  in 
degree  and  is  longer  continued  ; but  in  hind  it  is  the  same 
mystery.  To  succeed  in  the  first  step  is  the  peculiar  diffi- 
culty. “ Principium  dimidium  facti.” 

The  narrative  of  Laura  Bridgman  reminds  us  that  all 
art,  as  well  as  all  science,  has  been  progressive.  Aristotle 
borrowed  much  from  his  now  forgotten  predecessors. 
Kepler  opened  the  door  for  Newton.  No  art  springs  com- 
plete from  the  brain  of  any  man.  The  present  methods 
of  instructing  the  blind  were  not  first  suggested  by  the 
Abbe  Haiiy  in  the  last  century,  but  the  principle  which 
regulates  them  had  long  before  his  day  been  familiar  to 
the  mind  of  educators.  Narratives  almost  fabulous  had 
been  given  of  blind  men  feeling  and  thus  reading  the 
words  of  a book  or  manuscript.  So  the  present  methods 
of  instructing  the  deaf  and  dumb  were  not  invented  be- 
tween 1712  and  1789,  by  the  Abbe  de  l’Epee,  without  any 
hint  from  a previous  writer.  They  were  suggested  to  him 
by  a Spanish  treatise  which  was  written  in  1590,  and  was 
thrown  in  his  way  by  accident.  Indeed,  as  early  as  1485, 
Kodolphus  Agricola,  describing  ‘‘the  immense  and  almost 
incredible  power  of  the  human  mind,”  instances  as  little 
less  than  miraculous  what  he  himself  had  witnessed,  — a 
person  deaf  from  infancy,  and  consequently  dumb,  who 
had  learned  to  understand  writing,  and,  as  if  possessed  of 
speech,  was  able  to  write  down  his  whole  thoughts.  The 
first  art  of  instructing  the  blind  in  letters,  and  the  second 
art  of  instructing  the  deaf-mute,  are  compounded  with 
each  other  in  the  art  of  instructing  those  who  are  both 
blind  and  also  deaf  and  dumb.  The  principle  regulating 
this  combination  was  ingeniously  stated  by  George  Dal- 
garno  (sometimes  written  Dalgarus),  a Scotchman,  who 
wrote  in  1680  on  the  education  of  deaf-mutes,  and  from 
whom  more  than  one  renowned  scholar  has  borrowed 
more  than  he  has  acknowledged.  His  suggestive  words 
are,  ‘The  soul  can  exert  her  powers  by  the  ministry  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


X1U 


any  of  the  senses;  and,  therefore,  when  she  is  deprived 
of  her  principal  secretaries,  the  eye  and  the  ear,  then  she 
must  be  contented  with  the  service  of  her  lackeys  and 
scullions,  the  other  senses,  which  are  no  less  true  and 
faithful  to  their  mistress  than  the  eye  and  the  ear,  but 
not  so  quick  for  despatch.  . . . And  as  I think  the  eye 
to  be  as  docile  as  the  ear,  so  neither  see  I any  reason 
but  the  hand  might  be  made  as  tractable  an  organ  as 
the  tongue,  and  as  soon  brought  to  form,  if  not  fair,  at 
least  legible  characters,  as  the  tongue  to  imitate  and  echo 
back  articulate  sounds.”*  Notwithstanding  his  expressed 
confidence,  it  would  have  surprised  this  learned  Scotchman 
to  be  told  that  two  centuries  after  he  penned  the  sentences 
above  quoted,  there  would  be  living  in  the  New  World  a 
woman  who  had  lost  four  “ secretaries  ” of  the  mind,  and 
yet,  mainly  by  means  of  the  tips  of  her  fingers,  her  only 
remaining  “ lackeys  ” and  u scullions,”  she  could  express 
ideas  as  rapidly  as  an  ordinary  penman  could  record 
them. 

Prof.  Mussey,  in  his  letter  respecting  Laura  Bridgman, 
speaks  of  the  practical  skill  which  she  had  acquired  before 
she  was  educated  at  the  Asylum.  Other  instances  of  like 
skill  are  readily  suggested  to  us.  In  D.ugald  Stewart’s 
account  of  the  so-called  blind  deaf-mute,  James  Mitchell, 
we  read,  “He  had  received  a severe  wound  in  his  foot, 
and  during  its  cure  he  usually  sat  by  the  fireside  with  his 
foot  resting  on  a small  footstool.  More  than  a year  after- 
wards, a servant  boy,  with  whom  he  used  to  play,  was 
obliged  to  confine  himself  to  a chair  from  a similar  cause. 
Young  Mitchell,  perceiving  that  his  companion  remained 
longer  in  one  situation  than  he  used  to  do,  examined  him 
attentively,  and  seemed  quickly  to  discover,  by  the  baud' 


* Works  of  Dugald  Stewart,  Yol.  Ill,  p.  325,  Ed.  1829;  Edin- 
purgh  Review,  Yol.  LXI,  pp.  407,  417. 


xiv 


INTRODUCTION . 


ages  on  his  foot,  the  reason  of  his  confinement.  He  im- 
mediately walked  up  stairs  to  a garret,  sought  out,  amidst 
several  other  pieces  of  furniture,  the  little  footstool  which 
had  formerly  supported  his  own  wounded  limb,  and  gently 
placed  the  servant-boy’s  foot  upon  it.”  * James  Mitchell 
had  been  educated  by  the  use  of  natural  signs  to  perform 
such  exploits. 

Thomas  Whipple,  M.D.,  a physician  in  Wentworth,  Hew 
Hampshire,  in  a letter  dated  Feb.  28, 1834,  has  given  the 
following  account  of  Samuel  Elbridge  Eames,  who  became 
deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  when  he  was  about  two  years  old, 
and  died  when  he  was  sixteen  years  six  months  and 
twenty-three  days  old : u His  father  missed  an  axe,  and 
had  [missed  it]  for  some  time;  not  being  able  to  find  it,  he 
suspected  the  boy  had  hidden  it.  His  mother  made  him 
feel  another  axe,  and  patted  him,  and  made  some  motions 
with  him  ; he  went  into  an  unfinished  part  of  the  house, 
took  up  a loose  floor-board,  and  brought  forward  the  axe. 
He  went  into  his  father’s  gig-wagon  on  a certain  time  and 
took  all  the  ruffis  from  the  screws  which  held  the  parts  of 
the  wagon  together ; on  being  discovered  he  began  and 
replaced  them,  not  misplacing  a single  one.  He  has  taken 
a bunch  of  keys  consisting  of  six,  and  opened  his  father’s 
desk,  and  would  do  it  as  readily  as  any  one  of  the  family.  . . 
I visited  his  father,  who  was  sick.  He  detected  my  manner 
of  opening  and  shutting  the  door  by  the  jar  which  he  felt; 
he  met  me,  felt  me  over  from  head  to  foot,  smelt  my  clothes 
and  saddle-bags,  followed  me  into  the  sick-room,  took  my 
saddle-bags  on  my  putting  them  down,  opened  them,  raised 
the  vial-case,  opened  it,  took  out  one  of  the  vials,  uncorked 
it,  smelt  of  its  contents,  shook  his  head,  and  would  not 
taste  ; then  replaced  the  vial  and  returned  everything  to 
its  first  state.  After  this  trial,  though  nothing  was  done 
to  deter  him,  he  would  not  on  my  visiting  at  the  house 


* Works  of  Dugald  Stewart,  Yol.  Ill,  p.  309,  Amer.  Ed.  1829. 


INTRODUCTION. 


2£V 

opea  the  saddle-bags,  but  would,  on  smelling  them,  leave 
them.”  * 

It  would  have  been  impossible  for  a blind  deaf-mute  to 
perform  works  like  these  had  he  not  been  previously  edu- 
cated by  means  of  natural  signs.'  We  are  thus  reminded 
of  the  fact  that  all  processes  of  instruction  depend  ulti- 
mately on  natural  language.  This  is  the  basis  on  which 
arbitrary  language  is  founded.  Men  must  have  some 
means  of  communication  before  they  learn  the  use  of 
spoken  or  written  words.  They  have  an  instinctive  ten- 
dency to  perform  outward  actions,  and  to  express  their 
thoughts  and  feelings  by  smiles,  frowns,  or  other  move- 
ments of  the  body.  They  detect  the  resemblance  between 
their  own  expressions  and  the  expressions  of  other  per- 
sons. So  they  learn  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  other 
persons.  Some  of  these  expressions  are  probably  under- 
stood by  intuition  and  without  a reasoning  process.  Mr. 
Coleridge  says,  “ There  is  in  the  heart  of  all  men  a work- 
ing principle,  call  it  ambition,  or  vanity,  or  desire  of 
distinction,  the  inseparable  adjunct  of  our  individuality 
and  personal  nature,  and  flowing  from  the  same  source  as 
language,  the  instinct  and  necessity  in  each  man  of  de- 
claring his  particular  existence,  and  thus  of  singularizing 
himself.”  If  he  cannot  do  this  by  conventional  words  he 
will  do  it  by  instinctive  signs.  We  must  not  suppose,  how- 
ever, that  the  use  of  conventional  words  is  less  really  the 
ordinance  of  God  than  is  the  use  of  instinctive  signs. 
He  has  made  us  not  only  with  the  power,  but  also  with 
the  decisive  tendencies  to  use  articulate  speech.  We  are 
inclined  by  a law  of  nature  (and  this  in  the  last  resort  is 
God)  to  express  thought  by  words  as  its  symbols.  What 
we  call  natural  language  is  his  direct  gift  ; what  we  call 
artificial  language  is  his  indirect  gift.  As  a man  is  im- 


* Twenty-first  Report  of  the  Directors  of  the  American  Asylum 
*,t  Hartford,  pp.  35,  36. 


XVI 


INTRODUCTIL  N. 


pelled  to  put  forth  a choice  of  this  or  that,  but  he  has  a 
power  of  putting  forth  a choice  of  either  rather  than  the 
other,  in  a similar  way  man  is  impelled  to  use  this  or  that 
artificial  sign  of  his  ideas,  but  he  may  use  one  or  a differ- 
ent one  as  it  pleases  him.  The  Book  of  Genesis  was  not 
designed  to  teach  philology;  but  the  nineteenth  verse  of 
the  second  chapter  intimates  that  Adam  had  an  impulse 
to  name  the  animals  around  him,  and  the  particular  des- 
ignation of  each  animal  was  left  to  his  free  choice. 
Although  a person  be  unable  to  speak,  or  to  hear  a word 
if  he  should  speak  it,  or  to  see  a movement  of  the  vocal 
organs  of  other  men,  yet  he  has  an  impulse,  whenever  he 
is  excited,  to  use  his  own  vocal  organs;  not  only  to  use 
them  for  the  sake  of  relieving  a pressure  on  the  lungs,  or 
giving  to  the  larynx  such  an  exercise  as  its  health  or  com- 
fort requires,  but  for  the  sake  of  marking  the  distinction 
between  one  object  and  another.  He  has  an  impulse  to 
emit  vocal  sounds  distinct  from  the  unintelligible  screams, 
groans,  yells,  of  many  deaf-mutes.  “ Natural  language 
is  the  servant  of  the  heart ; [arbitrary]  speech  is  the 
handmaid  of  the  intellect.”  The  history  of  Laura  Bridg- 
man illustrates  these  principles.  “ So  strong  seems  the 
tendency  to  utter  vocal  sounds  that  Laura  uses  them  for 
different  persons  of  her  acquaintance  whom  she  meets, 
having  a distinct  sound  for  each  one.  When  after  a 
short  absence  she  goes  into  the  sitting-rcom  where  there 
are  a dozen  blind  girls,  she  embraces  them  by  turn, 
uttering  rapidly  and  in  a high  key  the  peculiar  sound 
which  designates  each  one  ; and  so  different  are  they  (the 
sounds  uttered  by  her)  that  any  of  the  blind  girls  can  tell 
whom  she  is  with.”*  Hr.  Lieber  says,  “Laura  has 
near  sixty  sounds  for  persons.  When  her  teacher  asked 
her,  at  my  suggestion,  how  many  sounds  she  recollected, 
she  produced  at  once  twenty-seven.  Three  of  her 


* Tenth  Annual  Report,  p.  32. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XVII 


teachers,  Dr.  Howe  included,  stated  to  me  that  she  had 
certainly  from  fifty  to  sixty.”  * The  impulse  to  utter  a 
Bound  as  the  distinctive  name  of  her  friend  seemed  to 
come  first ; the  translation  of  it  into  her  finger  language 
came  second.  After  having  employed  one  sound 
(“  noise  ”)  for  the  lady  when  unmarried,  she  saw  the 
propriety  of  employing  a different  sound  (“  noise  ”)  for 
the  same  lady  when  married.  She  was  not  encouraged 
at  the  Asylum  to  use  what  is  called  the  natural  nor 
the  analogical  language  ; her  thoughts,  which  might 
have  flowed  out  in  some  kind  of  pantomime,  were  di- 
rected by  her  teachers  into  the  channel  of  the  arbitrary 
language  of  the  fingers  ; and  through  this  channel  they 
flowed  easily  and  rapidly.  “ She  often  talks  with  herself, 
sometimes  holding  long  conversations , sneaking  with  one 
hand  and  replying  with  the  other .”  f After  all,  the  im- 
pulse to  utter  audible  words  could  not  be  repressed.  ISTot 
only  the  comfort  of  the  mind,  but  the  health  of  the  body 
is  promoted  by  yielding  to  this  impulse.  The  instincts  of 
man  correspond  with  his  power  of  thought  and  with  his 
animal  structure ; and  all  are  the  contrivance  of  the  Mind 
which  intended  that  man  should  be  an  articulately  speak- 
ing; as  well  as  an  articulately  thinking,  animal. 

The  history  of  Laura  Bridgman  casts  some  light  on  the 
doctrine  of  intuitions.  We  must  here  confine  ourselves 
to  the  inquiry  whether,  before  her  instruction  at  the  Asy- 
lum, she  had  an  idea  of  and  a belief  in  the  infinite  God 
and  her  own  immortality.  Throughout  his  Reports,  Dr. 
Howe  has  expressed  the  confident  opinion  that  she  had 
no  idea  of  the  Infinite  Being,  of  course  no  belief  in  him. 
This  opinion  seems  to  be  correct.  Fifteen  years  ago  I 

* A Paper  on  the  Vocal  Sounds  of  Laura  Bridgman,  p.  26.  By 
Francis  Lieber.  Smithsonian  Contributions,  etc. 

t A Paper  on  the  Vocal  Sounds  of  Laura  Bridgman,  p.  30, 
By  Francis  Lieber.  Smithsonian  Cortributions,  etc. 


XV111 


INTRODUCTION. 


had  two  interviews  (one  of  them  much  prolonged)  with 
her  in  regard  to  her  notions  of  the  Supreme  Being.  It  ap- 
peared evident,  first,  that  before  she  entered  the  Asylum 
she  had  no  belief  in  the  existence  of  an  infinite  and  per- 
fect Deity,  and  no  idea  of  him  ; secondly,  that  her  habit 
(an  uncommonly  obvious  one)  of  reasoning  from  effect  to 
cause,  and  from  the  phenomena  of  her  own  moral  nature, 
led  her  to  believe,  occasionally,  in  some  mysterious  being 
or  beings  by  whom  her  interests  were  affected  ; thirdly, 
that  her  idea  of  this  being  or  these  beings  was  far  inferior 
to  an  idea  of  the  infinite  God,  and  was  just  as  lofty  or  just 
as  low,  as  her  observation  of  phenomena  had  been  exact 
and  extensive  or  loose  and  limited  ; fourthly,  that  as  her 
belief  depended  upon  and  resulted  from  her  observation 
of  phenomena,  it  would  have  risen  to  a belief  in  the  infi- 
nite One  if  she  had  taken  a comprehensive  and  an  accurate 
view  of  these  phenomena.  Whatever  faith  she  had  was 
not  intuitive  in  the  ordinary,  sense  of  that  word,  but  came 
from  reasoning  ; this  faith  fell  below  a belief  in  the  true 
God,  because  the  data  for  reasoning  had  been  imperfectly 
examined.  Still,  in  the  above-mentioned  interviews,  it 
was  apparent  that  her  sensibilities  had  been  unsatisfied 
in  consequence  of  her  want  of  religious  knowledge,  and 
that  as  soon  as  this  want  was  supplied  at  the  Asylum  the 
demands  of  her  constitution  were  happily  met.  In  this 
particular  there  was  an  instructive  difference  between 
Laura  Bridgman  and  Julia  Brace,  the  blind  deaf-mute  of 
the  Hartford  Asylum.  “ The  following  experiment  has 
lately  been  tried  [on  Julia  Brace,  when  she  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age]  : Her  attention  was  called  to  a great 
variety  of  artificial  objects,  and  she  was  told  that  Miss  C. 
made  this,  Mr.  S.  that ; a man  one,  a woman  another, 
and  so  on.  The  idea  of  making  is  familiar,  for  she  makes 
some  things  herself.  Then,  a number  of  natural  objects 
were  presented  her,  such  as  minerals,  fruits,  flowers,  plants, 
vegetables,  and  she  was  told  that  neither  this  friend  nor 


INTRODUCTION. 


xix 


that  acquaintance  made  any  of  them;  that  neither  men 
nor  women  made  them.  The  hope  was  entertained  that 
her  curiosity  would  be  excited,  and  that  a way  might  be 
discovered  to  convey  to  her  mind  the  great  idea  of  the 
Almighty  Creator.  The  attempt  was  not  successful,  and 
though  several  times  repeated,  has  not  as  yet  resulted  in 
exciting  her  mind,  fixing  her  attention,  or  giving  us  any 
encouraging  indications.”*  Even  at  this  late  day,  when 
Julia  Brace  is  more  than  seventy  years  old,  it  is  difficult  to 
determine  how  far  her  mind  has  advanced  in  apprehend- 
ing the  true  character  of  God.  If  she  had  been  as  ready 
as  Laura  to  infer  an  ordinary  cause  from  an  ordinary 
event,  she  [jmight  have  been  as  ready  as  Laura  to  appre- 
ciate what  was  told  her  in  regard  to  the  infinite  and  ulti- 
mate Cause  of  all  events. 

As  Miss  Bridgman  had  no  intuitive  idea  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  so  she  had  none  of  the  soul’s  immortality.  In  the 
interviews  referred  to  above,  I could  not  find  that,  before 
her  instruction  at  the  Asylum,  she  had  any  proper  idea  of 
death.  She  described,  with  almost  frantic  gestures,  the 
horror  which  she  felt  when,  before  she  was  seven  years 
old,  she  touched  a corpse  ; but  the  horror  arose  not  from 
a just  notion  of  the  corpse,  but  from  her  new  sensations  of 
the^  coldness  and  unbending  stiffness  of  the  body.  As 
she  did  not  think  of  death,  so  she  did  not  think  of  exist- 
ence after  death.  Without  an  idea  of  mortality,  she  was 
without  any  proper  idea  of  immortality.  As  she  had  never 
thought  of  an  infinite  mind,  so  she  had  never  thought  of 
an  eternal  duration.  Of  course  she  expected  to  exist 
from  day  to  day,  as  she  expected  that  the  earth  would 
continue  from  day  to  day.  If  we  regard  her  expectation 
of  living  in  the  future  as  an  expectation  of  immortal  life, 
then  we  must  regard  her  expectation  of  the  earth’s  contin- 


* Twenty-first  Report  of  the  Directors  of  the  Hartford  Asylum, 
1827,  p.  28. 


XX 


INTRODUCTION. 


uance  in  the  future  as  au  expectation  of  its  continuance 
forever.  We  have,  moreover,  as  much  right  to  say  that 
she  had  an  intuitive  belief  in  the  continued  existence  of 
her  parents’  farm-house  as  to  say  that  she  had  an  intuitive 
belief  in  the  continued  existence  of  her  own  soul.  Indeed, 
I could  not  learn  that,  before  she  was  instructed  at  the 
Asylum,  she  had  formed  any  idea  of  the  soul  as  distinct 
from  the  body.  Even  at  the  Asylum  her  first  apprehen- 
sion of  the  spirit,  as  different  from  bone  and  muscle,  ap- 
peared to  be  an  apprehension  of  the  breath  which,  at  the 
mortal  hour,  was  taken  by  the  great  Spirit  from  the  body. 

The  history  of  Laura  Bridgman  illustrates  the  impor- 
tance of  a symmetrical  development  of  the  human  powers 
and  sensibilities.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  hear  men  say 
that  John  Milton  was  indebted  to  his  blindness  for  his 
fame  ; that  Sanderson,  Moyes,  and  Huber  would  have 
accomplished  less  than  they  have,  if  they  had  not  been 
deprived  of  vision.  It  is  said  of  the  noted  Puritan,  Dr. 
John  Guyse,  that  he  “ lost  his  eyesight  in  the  pulpit  while 
he  was  at  prayer  before  the  sermon,  but  nevertheless 
managed  to  preach  as  usual.”  He  was  told  by  one  of 
his  hearers,  “ God  be  praised  that  your  sight  is  gone  1 I 
never  heard  [you]  preach  so  powerful  a [sermon]  in  my 
life.  I wish  for  my  own  part  that  the  £ord  had  taken 
away  your  sight  twenty  years  ago  ; for  your  ministry 
would  have  been  more  useful  by  twenty  degrees.”  “ Male- 
branche,  when  he  wished  to  think  intensely,  used  to  close 
his  windows-shutters  in  the  daytime,  excluding  every  ray 
of  light ; and  for  a like  reason  Democritus  is  said  to  have 
put  out  his  eyes,  in  order  that  he  might  philosophize  the 
better,  — which  latter  story,  however,  it  should  be  observed, 
though  told  by  several  ancient  writers,  is  doubted  by  Cicero 
and  discredited  by  Plutarch.”  * 


* Edinburgh  Review,  Yol.  XCIX,  p.  62. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXI 


It  is  doubtless  true  that  the  deprivation  of  sight  and  hear- 
ing will  occasionally  stimulate  the  mind  to  augmented 
exertion  in  order  to  overcome  the  disadvantage.  This  fact 
proves  that  the  deprivation  is  a disadvantage.  It  is  also  true 
that  blindness  and  deafness  free  the  soul  from  many  dis- 
tractions; but  the  evil  of  these  distractions  is  incomparably 
less  than  the  evil  of  exclusion  from  the  exhilarating  in- 
fluence of  sight  and  sound.  Destitute  of  the  spiritualizing, 
refining  influences  exerted  by  the  eye  and  ear,  the  blind 
deaf-mute  is  tempted  to  an  excessive  indulgence  of  his 
lower  animal  nature.  He  is  apt  to  be  embittered  by  a 
sense  of  his  privations,  for  his  endowments  are  as  far  in- 
ferior to  those  #f  the  mere  deaf-mute  as  the  endowments 
of  the  deaf-mute  are  inferior  to  those  of  the  hearer  and 
speaker.  He  is  also  prone  to  be  irritated  by  the  toil  which 
he  must  undergo  in  learning  what  others  learn  with  ease. 
If  we  try  the  experiment  of  attempting  to  find  our  way 
around  the  walls  of  a room  completely  dark,  when  we  did 
not  know  exactly  from  what  part  of  the  room  we  started, 
we  are  surprised  at  our  inability  to  learn  our  bearings,  to 
judge  of  the  relations  between  the  walls,  chairs,  and  doors, 
with  which  one  glance  of  the  eye  would  make  us  perfectly 
familiar.  The  blind  deaf-mute  is  subjected  to  the  same 
kind,  but  a greater  degree  of  irritation  in  attempting  to 
orienteer  himself  in  any  department  of  knowledge.  Then 
the  monotony  of  his  labors  is  annoying  If  Laura  Bridg- 
man had  been  able  to  see  and  hear,  to  smell  and  taste,  as 
others  do,  she  might  have  been  often  diverted  from  her 
studies  by  processions  of  soldiers,  by  the  music  of  birds,  by 
the  fragrance  of  flowers,  and  the  flavor  of  fruits.  Free 
from  these  distractions,  her  mind  could  be  almost  as  intent 
on  her  arithmetic  by  night  as  by  day,  in  her  walks  as  at 
her  fireside,  in  a conservatory  of  roses  and  at  a luxurious 
dinner-table  as  in  her  school.  The  whole  world  was  to  her 
a continuous  school.  But  this  monotony  of  mental  action 
brought  multiplied  annoyances.  Equal  annoyances  came 


XXII 


INTRODUCTION. 


from  tne  necessity  of  her  dependence  upon  herself.  Many 
of  her  shades  of  doubt  could  not  be  indicated  by  her,  and 
many  shades  of  the  wisdom,  gathered  in  the  books,  could  not 
be  expressed  to  her.  Her  mind  was  like  a child  led  without  a 
lantern  by  a tenuous  thread  through  the  catacombs,  the 
thread  often  broken,  the  leader  often  lost.  We  are  apt  to  fail 
of  appreciating  the  emphasis  of  such  words  as  were  often 
impressed  by  her  fingers  on  the  fingers  of  her  teacher. 
These  words  were  a real  wail  for  clearer  thoughts ; they  were 
loud  cries  for  the  removal  ,of  her  mental  perplexities.  Sir 
James  Mackintosh  speaks  of  the  pain  which  James 
Mitchell  was  liable  to  suffer  “ from  the  occasional  violences 
of  a temper  irritated  by  a fruitless  struggle  to  give  utter- 
ance to  his  thoughts  and  wishes,  disturbed  still  further  by 
the  vehemence  of  those  gestures  which  he  employs  to 
supply  the  deficiency  of  his  signs,  and  released  from  that 
restraint  on  anger  which  we  experience  when  we  see  and 
hear  its  excesses  disapproved  by  our  fellow-creatures.”515 
Similar  remarks  are  applicable  to  Laura  Bridgman,  who 
has  been  doomed  to  ever-recurring  disappointments. 

Some  may  suppose  that  her  deficiency  in  the  senses  of 
smell  and  taste  was  no  disadvantage  to  her  intellect;  but 
the  want  of  any  physical  sense  is  such  a disadvantage, 
other  things  being  equal.  The  mind  is  delicately  poised 
among  a variety  of  physical  powers,  and  any  disarrange- 
ment of  any  one  of  these  powers  disturbs  the  mental  ac- 
tivity. Many  a fresh  train  of  thought  has  been  started  by 
the  odors  of  a garden,  by  the  taste  of  its  fruit.  The  mind 
and  heart  have  been  quickened  by  the  incense  at  a Catholic 
altar,  and  by  the  flavor  of  the  viands  at  a religious  festival. 
14 1 am  mortified,”  said  an  eminent  scholar, il  when  I re- 
flect on  the  influence  of  one  peach  in  refreshing  my  mind 
for  study.  Some  of  the  most  significant  words  relating  to 
the  human  mind  (the  word  sagacity,  for  instance)  are 


* Works  oi  Dugald  Stewart,  Vol.  Ill,  Ed.  1829,  p.  315. 


INTRODUCTION . 


XX111 


borrowed  from  this  very  sense  [of  smell],  and  the  conspic- 
uous place  which  its  sensations  occupy  in  the  poetical 
language  of  all  nations  shows  how  easily  and  naturally 
they  ally  themselves  with  the  refined  operations  of  the 
fancy  and  the  moral  emotions  of  the  heart.  The  infinite 
variety  of  modifications,  besides,  of  which  they  are  suscep- 
tible, might  furnish  useful  resources,  in  the  way  of  asso- 
ciation for  prompting  the  memory,  where  it  stood  in  need 
of  assistance.  One  of  the  best  schools  for  the  education 
of  such  a pupil  (a  blind  deaf-mute)  would  probably  be  a 
well-arranged  botanic  garden.”  * 

It  is  obvious  that  in  certain  particulars  Laura  Bridg- 
man suffered  many  disadvantages  in  comparison  with 
those  which  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  other  blind  deaf- 
mutes.  Thus  James  Mitchell  was  not  entirely  blind  nor 
entirely  deaf,  and  his  two  kindred  senses  of  smell  and  taste 
were  remarkably  acute.  Once,  when  his  sister’s  shoes  were 
wet,  he  first  perceived  the  fact  by  his  sense  of  smell,  then 
felt  them,  and  insisted  on  her  changing  them.  When  any 
new  object  was  put  into  his  hands  he  first  examined  it 
with  the  tips  of  his  fingers,  and  then  insinuated  “ his 
tongue  into  all  its  inequalities,  thus  using  it  [the  tongue] 
an  an  organ  of  touch  as  well  as  taste.”  f 

It  is  common  to  compare  Laura  Bridgman  with  J ulia 
Brace.  This  woman  was  born  June  13,  1807;  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Hartford  Asylum  when  she  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  She  became  entirely  deaf  and  blind  at  the 
age  of  four  years  and  about  five  months.  At  that  time 
she  could  read  and  spell  words  of  two  syllables.  Her 
sense  of  smell,  like  that  of  many  other  blind  persons,  is 
wonderfully  acute.  She  has  been  frequently  known  to 
select  her  own  clothes  f*om  a mass  of  dresses  belong- 
ing to  a hundred  and  thirty  or  forty  persons.  u Her 


* Dugald  Stewart’s  Works,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  315,  Ed.  1829. 
t Dugald  Stewart’s  Works,  Yol.  Ill,  p.  337,  Ed.  1829. 


XXIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


manner  is  to  examine  each  article  by  feeling;  but  to  de- 
cide upon  it  by  the  sense  of  smell,  and  in  regard  to  her 
own  things  she  never  errs.”  * She  has  been  frequently 
known  to  discriminate,  merely  by  smelling  them,  the 
recently  washed  stockings  of  the  boys  from  those  of  the 
girls  at  the  Asylum.  Among  a hundred  and  twenty  or 
thirty  teaspoons  used  at  the  Asylum  she  could  distin- 
guish those  of  the  steward  from  those  of  the  pupils, 
“ though  a casual  observer  would  hardly  notice  the  differ- 
ence.! ^ has  been  stated  that  by  putting  the  eye  of  a 
cambric  needle  upon  the  tip  of  her  tongue,  she  could  feel 
the  thread  as  it  entered  the  eye  and  pressed  upon  her 
tongue,  and  she  would  thus  thread  the  needle.  These  in- 
stances prove  that  her  sense  of  touch  was  at  least  equal, 
while  that  of  smell  was  far  superior,  to  those  of  Laura 
Bridgman.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  in 
certain  particulars  Laura  Bridgman  enjoyed  advantages 
superior  to  these  of  some  other  blind  deaf-mutes.  During 
the  first  two  years  of  her  life  her  physical  senses  and  powers 
were  equal  to  those  of  other  children;  in  her  eighth  year 
she  would  detect  a very  bright  color.  Although  James 
Mitchell  had  through  life  a faint  sensation  of  sight  and 
also  of  hearing,  yet  he'  was  born  almost  blind  and  deaf; 
others  have  been  bom  entirely  so.  A person  who  has  once 
had  the  sensations  of  flavor  and  fragrance,  light  and  sound, 
is  not  exactly  the  same  person  .he  would  have  been  without 
these  sensations.  They  must  have  given  some  impulse  to 
his  mind;  they  must  have  started  him  in  his  progress  of 
\hought.  Laura  Bridgman  was  born  in  lowly  life,  but 
was  early  surrounded  with  better  influences  than  those 
which  were  exerted  on  some  whose  avenues  of  knowdedge 
were  blocked  up  like  hers.  More  than  seven  years  of  her 


* Twenty-first  Report  of  the  Directors  of  the  Hartford  Asylum, 
p.  24:. 

\ Twenty-first  Report  of  the  Hartford  Asylum,  p.  23. 


INTRODUCTION . 


XXV 


early  childhood  were  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Dartmouth 
College.  She  probably  received  no  direct  influence  from 
the  college,  still  the  atmosphere  of  a New  England  town, 
in  which  a literary  institution  like  Dartmouth  has  existed 
for  a century,  is  more  healthful  to  the  soul  than  the 
atmosphere  of  the  almshouses  in  which  several  of  the 
blibrf  deaf-mutes  have  been  condemned  to  live.  Before 
S>ue  was  eight  years  old  she  was  placed  under  the 
general  superintendence  of  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Howe,  and 
during  twelve  subsequent  years  she  was  under  the  care  of 
some  accomplished  instructor,  specially  and  almost  ex- 
clusively devoted  to  this  one  pupil.  She  had  a particular 
trait  distinguishing  her  above  the  great  majority  of  all 
those  with  whom  it  can  be  of  any  use  to  compare  her. 
This  trait  was  an  uncommon  love  of  knowledge.  Inquisi- 
tiveness makes  the  scholar.  A difference  in  the  degree  of 
curiosity  causes  an  incalculable  difference  in  the  degree 
of  mental  improvement,  between  one  pupil  and  another. 

If  her  curiosity  had  been  earlier  gratified  in  receiving  a 
knowledge  of  God,  her  mind  would  have  been  more 
rapidly  as  well  as  more  symmetrically  developed.  If  the 
sense  of  smell  or  taste  has  an  intellectual  use,  much  more 
has  the  principle  of  religiosity. 

The  history  of  Laura  Bridgman  suggests  a lesson  on 
the  importance  of  early  education.  We  have  read  of  a 
student  who  inquired,  “ Is  it  of  any  use  to  know  Latin?  ” 
The  answer  was,  “It  is  of  great  use  to  have  forgotten 
Latin.”  It  is  very  evident  that  Laura  Bridgman  forgot  a 
large  part  of  the  education  which  she  received  before  she 
went  to  the  Asylum.  What  lasting  benefit  could  she  have 
derived  from  her  first  two  years,  when  she  saw,  heard, 
smeller  tasted,  as  well  as  other  children;  from  her  first 
seven  years,  when  she  had  some  faint  sensation  of  color,  as 
well  as  of  flavor  and  fragrance?  Much  advantage.  An 
education,  even  if  afterward  forgotten,  is  a singular  boon. 


xxvi 


INTRODUCTION. 


At  first  the  infant  sees  everything  double,  everything 
upside  down,  everything  in  close  contact  with  his  eye.  It 
is  by  a process  of  comparing  the  sensations  of  touch  with 
those  of  sight  that  he  learns  the  real  position  and  distance 
and  number  of  the  objects  which  he  sees.  He  listens  to 
the  song  of  a bird,  and  at  length  judges  of  its  direction  and 
remoteness  from  him  by  comparing  his  first  sensatie^vdU 
touch  and  sight  with  those  of  hearing.  He  beconf&S 
familiar  with  these  various  processes  of  judgment  and 
reasoning  long  before  he  is  capable  of  analyzing  them,  cr 
of  retaining  them  for  any  length  of  time  in  definite  ve- 
membrance.  During  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  his 
life,  he  acquires  a larger  number  of  ideas,  in  regard  to  space, 
time,  form,  substance,  quality,  matter,  mind,  language, 
than  he  will  acquire  during  any  two  or  three  years  subse- 
quent. If  the  child  could  make  known  his  mental  pro- 
cesses as  they  are  performed  day  by  day  during  the  first 
five  years  of  his  life,  he  would  be  the  instructor  of  the 
wisest  psychologist ; he  would  settle  the  questions  of  the 
schools  in  regard  to  our  original  ideas,  intuitions,  processes 
of  abstracting,  generalizing,  etc  We  have  read  of  persons 
solving  intricate  mathematical  problems  or  explaining 
obscure  metaphysical  theories  at  the  age  of  four  years. 
We  are  astonished  at  their  precocity:  we  should  be  more 
astonished  if  we  should  know  all  the  moral  reflections  of 
children  who  are  not  precocious,  and  wlio  are  not  old 
enough  to  express  their  thoughts  in  worthy  language 
The  profoundest  meditations  of  a man,  much  more  of  a 
small  boy,  are  often  concealed  because  they  do  not  suggest 
adequate  words.  As  the  scientific  discoveries  of  little 
children,  so  have  their  moral  reflections  a life-long  influ 
ence.  In  regard  to  moral  truths,  “ What  is  learned  in  the 
cradle  lasts  to  the  grave.”  Hence,  Virgil  says,  u Adeo 
inteneris  consuescere  multum  est .”  In  one  of  his  papers 
contributed  to  +he  Society  for  the  Diffusion  of  Useful 
Knowledge,  Lord  Brougham  pronounces  his  opinion  that 


INTRODUCTION. 


xxvii 


a cliild  before  his  fifth  year  has  already  formed  that 
character  which  it  is  difficult,  if  not  morally  impossible, 
to  change.  If  a child’s  character  be  confirmed  thus 
early,  his  education  must  begin  earlier  still.  It  must 
begin  before  he  can  understand  the  influences  which 
are  exerted  upon  him.  As  he  cannot  remember  the 
hour  when  he  began  to  distinguish  a superficies  from  a 
solid,  so  he  cannot  remember  the  hour  when  he  began  to 
approve  the  right  and  to  disapprove  the  wrong.  But  at 
that  early  hour  he  was  beginning  to  form  a habit  which, 
like  every  other  habit,  has  a tendency  to  be  permanent. 
Hence  the  great  multitude  of  the  proverbs  in  various  lan- 
guages: “ Bend  the  willow  while  it  is  young”;  “ As  the 
twig,  so  the  tree,”  etc.,  etc.  “ Education,”  says  a writer 
in  “ Fraser’s  Magazine,”  “ does  not  commence  with  the 
alphabet;  it  begins  with  a mother’s  look,  with  a father’s 
smile  of  approbation  or  sign  of  reproof,  with  a sister’s 
gentle  pressure  of  the  hand  or  a brother’s  noble  act  of 
forbearance,  with  birds’  nests  admired  and  not  touched, 
with  creeping  ants  and  almost  impossible  emmets,  with 
humming  bees  and  great  bee-hives,  with  pleasant  walks 
and  shady  lanes,  and  with  thoughts  directed  in  swe  et  and 
kindly  tones  and  words  to  mature  acts  of  benevolence,  to 
deeds  of  virtue,  and  to  the  source  of  all  good,  — to  God 
himself.” 

The  history  of  Laura  Bridgman  gives  us  new  suggestions 
on  the  worth  of  human  nature.  The  more  clearly  we  see 
the  power  of  the  soul,  so  much  the  more  keenly  do  we  feel 
the  need  of  educating  it.  The  results  which  have  come 
from  the  training  of  this  disabled  woman  foreshadow  the 
results  which  might  ensue  if  equal  labor  were  expended 
in  the  training  of  persons  who  are  free  from  her  disabili- 
ties. The  success  of  her  teachers  is  a stimulus  and  en- 
couragement to  all  who  find  obstacles  in  imparting  knowl- 
edge to  others.  Dr.  Howe  defined  obstacles  as  “ things  to 
be  overcome.” 


xxviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  order  to  estimate  properly  the  greatness  of  Nature’s 
work,  it  is  advisable  now  and  then  to  reduce  the  scale  of 
them  in  our  imagination.  We  cannot  easily  appreciate 
the  magnitude  of  our  earth,  with  its  diameter  of  seven 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles;  of  Uranus, 
With  its  diameter  of  thirty-five  thousand  miles  ; of  Saturn, 
with  its  diameter  of  seventy-six  thousand  and  sixty-eight 
miles;  of  Jupiter,  with  its  diameter  of  eighty-seven  thou- 
sand miles.  We  must  humble  our  views  in  order  to  exalt 
them.  We  can  form  a more  vivid  idea  of  the  solar  sys- 
tem, if  we  ever  and  anon  imagine  the  earth  to  be  but  one 
mile  in  diameter,  and  the  other  planets  to  be  proportion- 
ally small,  than  if  we  always  attempt  to  form  such  images 
of  the  globes  as  shall  accord  with  their  actual  size.  When 
we  reduce  the  earth  to  a half -inch  in  diameter,  and  reduce 
the  other  planets,  the  satellites,  and  the  sun  to  a propor- 
tionate littleness,  we  prepare  ourselves  to  form  a still  more 
exact  idea  of  the  greatness  of  those  orbs.  Hence,  the 
use  of  the  planetarium.  Sir  John  Herschell  says,  “As 
to  getting  correct  notions  on  [the  magnitudes  and  dis- 
tances of  the  planets]  by  drawing  circles  on  paper,  or, 
still  worse,  from  those  very  childish  toys  called  orreries,  it 
is  out  of  the  question.”  As  to  getting  perfect  notions  on 
any  great  subject  in  this  world,  it  is  out  of  the  question  ; 
but  right  ideas  are  often  suggested  where  they  are  not  ex- 
pressed. If  we  bend  low,  we  may  afterward  rise  high.  It 
is  said  of  Pope  Sixtus  V that  while  a cardinal,  he  walked 
like  an  old  man,  with  his  head  inclined  toward  the  ground, 
but  as  soon  as  he  had  obtained  the  papal  tiara,  which  had 
been  the  object  of  his  ambition,  he  assumed  an  erect 
stature  and  walked  with  a firm  step.  To  the  question, 
“ Why  this  change  ? ” his  reported  answer  was,  “ While  I 
was  looking  for  the  keys  of  St.  Peter,  I needed  to  stoop; 
but  now  that  I have  found  them,  I may  stand  upright.” 
We  need  to  stoop  low  in  order  to  detect  the  sublimity  of 
Sie  human  soul. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXIX 


When  we  see  a girl  in  lowly  life,  11  a silent,  helpless, 
hopeless  unit  of  mortality,”  whose  faculties  lay  slumber- 
ing in  a prison  barred  by  four  thick  walls,  not  a ray  of  the 
sun’s  light  entering  her  dungeon  after  she  was  eight  or 
nine  years  old,  not  a sound  of  a human  voice  penetrating 
it,  with  but  few  odors  wafted  into  it  from  the  flowers  of 
the  field,  with  only  a faint  and  feeble  sense  of  the  most 
luscious  fruits;  a lonely  girl,  doomed  to  form  her  notions 
of  the  outer  world  by  what  is  commonly  called  the  sense 
of  touch,  wisdom  at  all  other  entrances  being  almost, 
although  not  “quite  shut  out,”  who  yet  learns  to  per- 
form operations  far  surpassing  those  of  such  men  as  can 
see  and  hear  and  smell  and  taste,  we  are  surprised  at  the 
reserved  forces  belonging  to  human  nature  and  exceed- 
ing some  of  the  capabilities  which  are  developed  in  com- 
mon life. 

In  the  narrative  of  this  remarkable  person,  we  are  told 
of  her  physical  exploits,  which  are  certainly  equal  to  those 
performed  by  James  Mitchell  or  Samuel  Eames  or  Julia 
Brace;  and  of  her  mental  and  moral  advancement,  which, 
in  a soul  so  firmly  imprisoned,  is  altogether  unprecedented. 
She  can  read  words  which  we  cannot.  She  can  detect  the 
emphasis  of  a bodily  motion  which  gives  no  idea  to  us. 
In  the  darkness  of  midnight  she  can  peruse  her  Bible.  If 
she  were  amid  the  roar  of  a battle-field,  she  could  pursue 
her  studies  undisturbed.  She  feels  a command  in  one 
movement  of  the  arm,  a permission  in  another  move- 
ment, a reproof  in  a different  one;  an  expression  of  im- 
patience in  one  muscle,  of  anger  in  another,  of  esteem  in 
a different  one.  She  can  touch  the  smiles  of  a congrega- 
tion. She  can  feel  the  beaming  of  the  eyes  of  her  visit- 
ors. She  can  distinguish  the  various  tones  of  various 
movements  of  the  fingers.  If  her  quick  discernment  of 
muscular  expression  were  combined  with  the  common 
powers  of  vision,  hearing,  and  speech,  site  would  be  dis- 
tinguished above  her  race  as  an  observer  of  its  mental 


XXX 


INTRODUCTION. 


phenomena,  We  read  of  men  who  having  eyes  see  not, 
and  having  ears  hear  not;  but  we  now  behold  a woman 
who  has  no  eyes,  and  yet  sees  the  finger  of  nature  point- 
ing to  its  God;  has  no  ears,  and  yet  listens  to  the  tones 
of  nature  expressing  the  majesty  of  God;  lives  in  the 
land  of  silence  and  the  land  of  darkness,  is  unable  to 
utter  the  name  of  Him  who  dwelleth  only  in  the  light, 
and  yet  she  holds  and  enjoys  communion  with  that  Infi- 
nite Intelligence.  The  most  disabled  of  men  is  made  but 
little  lower  than  the  angels. 


August  B,  1878 


Edwards  A.  Park, 
Andover  Theological  Seminary . 


PREFACE. 


In  a paper  on  the  vocal  sounds  of  Laura  Bridgman, 
published  thirty  years  ago,  Dr.  Francis  Lieber  expressed 
the  hope  that  a general  account  of  her  education  would 
not  much  longer  be  withheld  from  the  public.  Dr.  Howe 
has  often  intimated  in  conversation,  as  well  as  in  his  an- 
nual reports,  his  intention  to  prepare  such  an  account, 
but  his  life  closed  before  it  was  accomplished.  Soon  after 
his  death  applications  were  made  to  the  writer  from  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  country  to  take  up  the  work  at  once,  lest 
that  which  was  considered  to  be  of  much  importance  to 
the  scholar  be  lost  irretrievably. 

Most  reluctantly  have  I yielded  to  these  requests,  appre- 
ciating fully  my  own  inability  to  fill  the  place  which  right- 
fully belonged  to  him  who  first  devised  a way  to  pour  light 
into  a mind  thus  darkened.  My  aim  will  be  simply  to 
state  facts,  and  in  making  selections  from  the  daily  reports 
of  her  teachers  to  omit  nothing  which  can  be  of  service 
in  any  department  of  science.  Believing  that  the  value 
of  the  work  is  to  be  measured  by  its  accuracy,  I have  care- 
fully ascertained  all  dates,  and  have  secured  from  most 
reliable  sources  a full  account  of  her  early  teaching. 

I have  quoted  largely  from  the  reports  of  Dr.  Howe 
(now  nearly  out  of  print) , which  contain  a summary  of 
her  progress  from  year  to  year,  and  thus  have  preserved 
them  from  utter  loss,  while  adding  greatly  to  the  interest 
»f  these  notes. 


/ 

/ 


PREFACE. 

ers  is  left  the  work  of  gleaning  from  these  fruit- 
ds.  There  are  rich  sheaves  for  the  teacher  who 
js  the  subject  of  language  a study,  and  for  the  men- 
and  moral  philosopher,  who  will  find  much  that  is  val- 
.able  each  in  his  own  department;  while  all  who  read  may 
learn  to  prize  highly  the  inestimable  gifts  of  sight 
itnd  heading. 


Mart  Swift  Lamson. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  L 

Page 

Parentage.  — Infancy.  — Early  Childhood.  — Brought  to  the 
Institution  for  the  Blind  in  Boston.  — First  Lessons. — 
Learning  to  attach  Labels  to  Proper  Objects.  — Learns 
Finger  Alphabet.  — Learns  to  write.  — First  Temptation. 

— Visit  to  Hanoyer 1 

CHAPTER  II. 

Dr.  Howe’s  Report  of  the  First  Year’s  Instruction,  1838. — 
Occupation  when  alone.  — Dexterity  in  use  of  Finger 
Language.  — Her  Mother’s  First  Visit  to  her.  — Report  of 
Second  Year’s  Instruction,  1839.  — Intellectual  Improve- 
ment.— Learning  Adjectives. — Prepositions  “in”  and 
“on.”  — Auxiliaries  expressing  Past,  Present,  and  Fu- 
ture Tenses. — First  Letter.  — First  Lessons  in  Arith- 
metic. — Days  of  Week.  — Perception  of  Time  in  Music. — 
Judgment  of  Distances  and  Direction.  — Learning  Words 
“ right  ” and  “ left.”  — Word-making.  — Attempt  at 
Classification.  — Love  of  Teasing.  — Fondness  of  Dress.  — 
Effect  of  Deprivation  of  Three  Senses  on  the  Remaining,  11 

CHAPTER  III. 

Second  Visit  to  Hanover.  — First  Lesson  on  Arithmetic 
Board. — Description  of  it.  — Journal  of  Miss  Drew. — 
Death  of  Adeline.  — Honesty.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Report  of 
1840.  — Size  of  Head.  — Evidences  of  Lack  of  Smell. — 
Recognition  of  Persons.  — Progress  in  Intellectual  Ac- 
quirements. — Use  of  Pronouns.  — Inflection  of  Verbs.  — 
Eagerness  in  Study. — Words  signifying  Mental  Oper- 
ations, “ remember,”  “ forget.”  — Words  expressing 


XXXIV 


CM  N TENTS. 


Pagb 

Generic  Character.  — Development  of  Moral  Qualities. — 
Deportment  towards  Different  Sexes.  — Conscientious- 
ness. — Choice  of  Companions.  — Tendency  to  Imitation. 

— Social  Feelings.  — First  Falsehood.  — Prejudices  . 28 

CHAPTER  IV. 

1841.  Miss  Swift’s  Journal.  — Arrival  of  Lucy  Reid.  — Lau- 
ra’s Lesson  to  Lucy.  — Difficulty  in  teaching  Comparison. 

— Refusal  to  eat  Meat.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Views.  — Her  Re- 
ligious Feeling.  — Innate  Dispositions.  — Can  she  he 
taught  the  Existence  of  God?  — She  discovers  that  she  has 
Four  Senses.  — Quarrel  with  Lucy.  — Her  Idea  of  the  Seat 
of  Sensation.  — Lessons  on  Color.  — Power  of  Blind  to  dis- 
tinguish Color. — Teaching  her  Doll  to  talk. — Noises  to 
designate  Persons.  — Interest  in  Lucy.  — Box  of  Types. 

— Lucy’s  Departure. — First  hears  of  Oliver  Caswell. — 
Sentences  on  Type  Board.  — Questions  about  Animals. — 
Dislike  of  Types.  — Sense  of  the  Ludicrous.  — Letter  to 
her  Mother.  — Test  of  Conscientiousness.  — Killing  a 
Mouse.  — Idea  of  Noise.  — Distinction  between  “ to  pun- 
ish” and  “to  blame.” — Arrival  of  Oliver  Caswell. — 

His  First  Lesson  (see  appendix).  — Lesson  on  Trades  . 48 

CHAPTER  V. 

1841.  Visit  to  Hanover,  Concord,  Hartford.  — Meets  Julia 
Brace  and  Mrs.  L.  H.  Sigourney.  — Poem  by  Mrs.  Sigour- 
ney. — Parting  with  Miss  Drew.  — Invitation  to  visit  her. 

— Dr.  Howe’s  Statement  of  her  Physical  and  Mental  Con- 
dition. — Assistance  she  derives  from  the  Sense  of  Mus- 
cular Resistance.  — Relations  of  “ Outness.”  — Measures 
Distance  accurately.  — Effect  of  Electricity  and  Galvan- 
ism. — Dreams.  — Progress  in  Language.  — Native  Mod- 
esty.— Idea  of  Sex.  — Story  of  the  Doll. — Dr.  Howe’s 
Plans  for  her  Religious  Instruction  ....  82 

CHAPTER  VI. 

1842.  Teachers  in  this  Year.  — Manner  of  reporting  Conver- 
sations. — Why  she  spells  correctly.  — Difficulties  in  read- 


CONTENTS. 


XXXV 


Page 

ing  “ Child’s  First  Book.”  — Asks  a Definition  of  Vowels 
and  Consonants. — Boats  and  Oars.  — Notice  of  a Trus- 
tees’ Meeting.  — Explanation  of  an  Almanac.  — Dr. 

Howe  wishes  to  give  her  Ideas  of  Death.  — Recollections 
of  feeling  of  a Corpse.  — Remarks  upon  it.  — Can  we 
think  without  Words?  — Call  from  Charles  Dickens.  — 

Words  of  Flattery  not  repeated  to  her.  — Letter  to  her 
Mother.  — Report  of  a Lesson  upon  God.  — Mistakes  in 
using  Verbs.  — Desire  to  see  God. — New  Words  from 
“ Child’s  Second  Book.”  — Learns  the  Meaning  of  **  de- 
ceive ” and  “fault.”  — Colors  Dark  and  Light.  — Recov- 
ers from  Measles.  — Wrong  Impressions  in  Reading.  — 
Smells  an  Orange.  — Seeing  through  the  Windows  in 
Boston.  — Extent  of  the  Dog’s  Knowledge.  — Hearing 
Cannon.  — Sick  Horse.  — Little  Deception.  — J ane  Da- 
mon. — Lesson  at  Sea-shore.  — Spider’s  Web  like  Plate 
of  Planetary  System.  — Difficulty  in  remembering  cer- 
tain Words 94 

CHAPTER  VII. 

1842.  Death  of  Orrin.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Conversation  with  her. 

— Questions  she  asked  others.  — Gymnasium.  — Visit  to 
Museum.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Summary  of  her  Condition  at 
Close  of  this  Year.  — Necessity  of  Language. — Process 
of  acquiring  Language.  — Use  of  Adjectives.  — Use  of 
Verbs. — Further  Views  of  Religious  Training  . . 116 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

1843.  New  Year’s  Day.  — Feeling  Persons  talk.  — Rudeness 
explained. —Playing  the  Coquette.  — Her  own  Idea  of 
the  Noises  she  makes.  — Visit  of  George  Combe. — Re- 
sults in  the  Appointment  of  the  Author  as  sole  Teacher.  — 

New  Plan  of  Studies,  Work,  and  Exercise.  — Delight  at  the 
Arrangement.  — First  Lesson  in  Geography.  — Points  of 
Compass. — Bounding  Rooms. — Story  of  Old  Man  and 
Plum-Tree.  — Her  Version  of  it.  — Conversation  on 
Trades.  — Numeration.  — Public  Exhibition.  — Questions 
on  House-building.  — Teaching  her  to  speak.  — Lesson 
on  Map  of  Boston.  — Conversations  recall  Events  of  her 


XXXV2 


CONTENTS. 


Pag* 

Childhood.  — S "ory  of  Little  Girl  and  Lamb.  — Failure  in 
•writing  a P.tory  which  had  been  read  containing  Dialogue. 

— Lesson  on  Dry  Measure.  — Story  of  Folio.  — Bounds 
Towns  in  Vicinity  of  Boston.  — Lesson  on  Wine  Measure. 

— Letter.  — Case  of  Deception.  — Its  Treatment.  — Story 
of  her  Childhood. — Troubled  by  the  Word  “ crazy.”  — 
Letter  to  her  Mother.  — Hears  of  Dr.  Howe’s  intended 
Marriage.  — Cloth  Measure.  — Outline  Map.  — Lesson 
on  Towns  on  Cape  Cod.  — Excitement  in  an  Interesting 
Lesson. — Discussion  of  Etiquette.  — Imagination  devel- 
ops slowly.  — Good  Resolutions.  — Use  of  “Ma’am ” and 
“ Sir.”  — Exhibition  at  State  House 132 

CHAPTER  IX. 

L843.  Commences  Colburn’s  Mental  Arithmetic. — Gymna- 
sium Exercises.  — Enjoys  her  Arithmetic.  — Again  mis- 
understands her  Reading.  — Impatience  in  a Shop.  — 

Finds  a Latin  Book  and  puzzles  over  it. — Takes  First 
Lesson  on  the  Large  Map  of  New  England  States.  — 
Questions  how  to  address  a Gentleman  in  a Note. — 
Judges  correctly  of  Quality  of  Embroidery.  — Completes 
Third  Section  in  Colburn’s  Mental  Arithmetic.  — Lesson 
on  Trees.  — Frightened  by  a Dream.  — Visit  to  Steam- 
ship. — Sadness  at  parting  with  Dr.  Howe.  — Letter  to 
Miss  Everett.  — Vacation.  — Forgetting  her  Arithmetic. 

— Passion.  — First  Lesson  on  Large  Map  of  United 
States.  — Excitement  on  hearing  of  Niagara.  — Sewing. 

— Learning  various  Kinds  of  Woods. — Examines  a Mon- 
key.— Visit  to  a Menagerie.  — Cause  of  Trouble  in  Arith- 
metic. — Death  of  one  of  the  Blind  Girls  ...»  160 

CHAPTER  X. 

1843.  J ourney  to  Halifax.  — Pleasure  in  teaching  Laura.  — 
Lessons  in  the  Woods  ; in  Barn  ; at  Saw-Mill.  — About 
the  Fall  River  Fire.  — Completes  Seventh  Section  in 
Arithmetic.  — How  she  knows  when  to  rise  in  the  Morn- 
ing. — Punctuation.  — Eighth  Section  completed.  — 
Lesson  on  Multiplication  of  Fractions.  — Playing  with 
Doll  in  the  Night.  — Lesson  on  Indians.  — Reading  to  her 
“The  Spider  and  the  Fly.” — Tenth  Section  in  Arith- 


CONTENTS. 


xxxvu 


Pagb 

metic.  — Niagara  Falls.— Distance  lessening  Size.— Causes 
of  Day  and  Night.  — Calculates  the  Difference  in  Time 
between  Places.  — Tired  of  Living.  — Prudery  corrected. 

— Tellurian 184 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1843.  How  we  read  Books  to  Laura;  the  Rapidity  with 
which  it  can  he  done.  — Visitors  from  North  Carolina.  — 

Doll  in  Welsh  Costume.  — Vacation.  — Breaking  a Glass. 

— Map  of  North  America. — Difficulty  of  learning  the 
Names  in  Mexico. — Animals  required  to  make  the  Things 
in  the  Room.  — Metals  required.  — Woods  required.  — 
Manufacture  of  Glass.  — Completes  Thirteenth  Section 
in  Arithmetic.  — Commences  Abbott’s  Story,  “ Caleb  in 
Town.”  — Tells  to  which  Kingdom  Things  in  the  Room 
belong.  — Letter  to  a Little  Girl.  — Book  of  Diagrams.  — 

Rain,  Snow,  Hail.  — Difficulties  in  commencing  a New 
Subject.  — Slow  to  receive  a Joke.  — Feeling  on  Account 
of  Dr.  Howe’s  Marriage.  — Conscience.  — Improvement 
in  Smell.  — Learning  the  Names  of  Cooking  U tensils.  — 
Complete  Map  of  South  America.  — Commences  Section 
Fifteen  in  Arithmetic.  — Finds  it  a difficult  one.  — Feels 
that  she  has  been  slighted.  — Learning  Shapes  of  V arious 
Objects.  — Field  of  Inquiry  enlarged.  — Fourteenth 
Birthday.  — Examines  a Dead  Canary  Bird.  — Too  old 
to  go  to  Bed  early.  — Sensitiveness  because  Parrots  speak. 

— Lesson  on  the  Large  Globe.  — Commences  Map  of 
Europe 199 

CHAPTER  XII. 

1844.  Wishes  Dr.  Howe  a Happy  New  Year.  — New  Year’s 
Present.  — Call  from  a Graceful  Young  Lady.  — Talks 
about  Spain  and  its  People.  — Dreams. — Finds  Fault  with 
those  around  her.  — Lesson  on  the  Lever.  — Dreamed  she 
talked  with  her  Mouth.  — Sorrow  that  Oliver  knows 
nothing  about  God.  — Visit  of  Representatives.  — Letter 
to  Dr.  Howe,  — Recalls  the  Old  Case  of  Deception  about 
the  Gloves.  — Case  of  Anger,  continued  111  Feeling,  and 
Final  Penitence.  — Picture  of  Laura  and  Oliver  painted 


xxxviii 


CONTENTS. 


PAG! 

by  Fisher.  — Drunkards.  — Capering.  --  Compares  Blocks 
of  Ice  to  Glaciers.  — Last  Miscellaneous  Examples  in 
Colburn.  — Visit  of  Governor  and  Council,  and  Mr.  Weld 
and  his  Deaf-Mute  Pupils  from  Hartford.  — He  promises 
to  pray  God  to  bless  her.  — Letter  to  Gov.  Briggs.  — Read- 
ing in  Book  of  Psalms.— -Visit  to  a German  Brig.  — Indus- 
try. — Long  List  of  New  Words  for  Explanation.  — Let- 
ter to  Dr.  Howe.  — Completed  Colburn’s  Mental  Arith- 
metic in  One  Year.  — Method  of  Study.  — Letter  to  Mrs. 
Howe.  — Talk  on  the  New  Russian  Railroad.  — President 
of  the  United  States. — Discovery  of  America. — Begins 
the  Map  of  Africa J22 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Letter  from  Dr.  Howe  to  Laura.  — Mistake  in  reckoning 
Time.  — Visits  Boston  at  the  Time  of  Temperance 
Procession.  — Musical  Instruments.  — Doll’s  Marriage.  — 
Smells  Roses  for  First  Time.  — Letter  to  Mrs.  Howe.  — 
iEolian  Harp.  — Commenced  a Story  about  two  African 
Tribes.  — Shocked  at  their  killing  each  other. — Return 
of  Dr.  Howe.  — Writes  a Story  on  Jane  Damon.  — Arri- 
val of  Mrs.  Howe  250 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1844.  Learned  much  in  Vacation.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Lesson  on 
“ ful  ” and  “ less.’  ’ — Fifty  New  Words  learned  in  a Week. 

— Meaning  of  Profane.  — Imaginary  Shopping,  pay- 
ing in  Dollars  and  Cents,  then  in  Shillings  and  Pence.  — 

1845.  Diploma  from  the  Mechanics’  Fair.  — Commences 
Grammar.  — Learns  the  Parts  of  Speech  rapidly.  — U ses 
Ciphering  Board  again.  — Dislikes  to  lose  part  of  my 
Time.  — Style  of  Conversation  with  Oliver.  — Language 
not  as  good  as  Six  Months  ago. — Dr.  Howe’s  Remarks 
on  Language.  — He  tells  her  the  Story  of  Christ’s  Birth. 

— Advanced  to  Reduction  on  her  Board.  — Finished  the 
Story  of  Marco  Paul.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Method  of  conver- 
sing with  her  on  Religious  Subjects.  — Answers  to  Ques- 
tions concerning  Laura’s  Ability  to  understand  Biblical 
Doctrines 264 


CONTENTS. 


xxxix 


CHAPTER.  XY. 

Pagh 

184-5.  No  Teachei  for  Four  Months.  — Miss  "Wight  becomes 
her  Teacher  in  August.  — She  has  forgotten  much  both 
in  Geography  and  Arithmetic.  — Few  Records  of  Details 
of  Lessons.  — Interest  in  Magnet.  — Question  on  Mar- 
riage. — Lesson  on  Motives.  — Rudeness.  — Talk  on  being 
benevolent.  — “"Why  do  I have  two  Thoughts?” — Con- 
cealment from  her  Teacher  — Asks  God’s  Forgiveness. 

— Unkindness  to  her  Teacher,  Impatience,  and  Anger.  — 
Succeeds  in  overcoming  Difficulties  without  Impatience. 

— Strange  Dreams.  — Questions  about  Heaven.  — “ Why 
did  Jesus  come?”  An  Original  Story  ....  278 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

184,7.  Further  Extracts  from  Miss  Wight’s  Journal.  — 
Desire  to  read  the  Bible.  — Becomes  more  Pa- 
tient. — Anxiety  to  know  if  God  has  forgiven  her 
Past  Sins.  — Reading  of  Matthew’s  Gospel.  — Interest 
in  Chapter  Five.  — Hears  of  the  Death  of  her  Friend 
Tenny.  — Explains  the  Lord’s  Prayer.  — Christ’s  Temp- 
tation. — Inhales  Ether.  — Letter  to  Brother.  — Im- 
provement in  Character.  — Miracles  of  Christ.  — 

“ Why  is  Pain  sent  us  ? ” — Impatience.  — Christ’s 
Death.  — Forgiveness.  — Dr.  Howe  resumes  her  Religious 
Instruction. — Visit  to  Hanover.  — Questions  about  Mr. 
Tenny  after  Death.  — U nhappiness  at  the  Reserve  of  her 
Teacher  in  talking  on  Religious  Topics.  — Self-Satisfac- 
tion. — Another  Fall.  — Extracts  from  Laura’s  own 
Journal.  — She  reports  her  Success  in  teaching  a Deaf 
and  partially  Blind  little  Girl.  — She  talks  to  her  about 
her  Heavenly  Father.  — Insubordination  and  Punishment 
of  her  Pupil.  — Miss  Wight’s  Absence.  — Laura’s  Tribute 
to  her.  — Inquiries  about  Christ.  — Confession  of  Wrong- 
Doing.  — Feelings  towards  God.  — Story  of  a Poor 
Woman.  — Pleasant  Anticipations.  — Less  Bright 
Thoughts 30C 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

1848.  Miss  Wight’s  Journal,  continued.  — Good  Health.  — 
Desire  to  earn  her  own  Living.  — Effects  of 
Prayer.  — Interest  in  Free  - Soil  Principles.  — Allu- 


xl 


CONTENTS. 


sion  to  her  Privations.  — Delight  in  a Sermon.  — 

1849.  Advice  to  a Friend. — Attends  a Wedding. — 
Letter  to  her  Brother  Addison.  — Studying  Algebra.  — 
Finished  reading  Jarvis’s  Physiology.  — Christmas 
Party.  — Miss  Wight,  failing  in  Health,  leaves  her  in 

1850.  — Dr.  Howe’s  Eighteenth  Report.  — Laura’s  Pro- 

gress.— Position  before  the  World.  — Her  Treatment 
shows  Human  Progress 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Additional  Items  of  Interest. — Return  to  Boston.  — Visit 
and  Examination  of  my  House.  — Interest  in  the  Baby.  — 
Description  of  its  V isit  to  her.  — Letter  of  Consolation 
on  its  Death. — Her  Occupation  after  Miss  Wight  left 
her.  — Letters  of  Sympathy  to  Miss  Rogers.  — Incidents 
of  Visits  to  Mrs.  L. — Return  to  her  Father’s  House. — 
Illness  from  Home-Sickness.  — Strong  Likes  and  Dis- 
likes.— Ability  to  read  Character.  — Illustrations. — 
Choice  of  Dress.  — Enjoyment  of  a Watch.  — Receives  a 
Present  of  one.  — Sympathy  with  the  Poor  and  Suffer- 
ing. — Her  own  Sketch  of  her  Early  Life  .... 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Acquaintance  of  Katie  Hill.  — New  Views  received  from 
her. — Hears  of  the  Death  of  her  Sister.  — Rebellious 
Spirit.  — Letter  to  Miss  Rogers,  indicating  her  Submission 
to  God’s  Will.  — Baptism.  — Sketch  of  her  Feelings  at  the 
Loss  of  her  Sister,  and  Description  of  her  Baptism.  — 
Anxiety  about  her  Future  Support.  — Letter  to  Mrs.  L , 
expressing  Gratitude  at  an  Arrangement  for  it.  — Visit 
to  Dr.  Howe  before  his  Decease.  — Letter  after  it.  — Loss 
of  her  Friend,  Miss  Rogers.  — Letter  written  to  her 
before  her  Death.  — Letter  to  her  Sister.  — Sympathy 
with  a Little  Boy 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Her  Present  Life.  — Occupations.  — Books.  — Appearance. - 
Change  in  Character. — Poem  on  “Light  and  Dark- 
ness.” — Closing  Remarks.  — Poem,  “ Holy  Home  ” 


Page 


321 


33C 


•349 


363 


LAUEA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Laura  Dewey  Bridgman  was  born  Dec.  21, 
1829,  in  Hanover,  N.  H.  She  was  the  child  of 
Daniel  and  Harmony  Bridgman.  Her  parents  are 
described*  as  of — 

“the  average  height,  and  though  slenderly  built,  of 
sound  health  and  good  habits.  The  father’s  tempera- 
ment inclined  to  the  nervous,  but  he  had  a small  brain ; 
while  the  mother  had  a very  marked  development  of 
the  nervous  system,  and  an  active  brain,  though  not  a 
large  one. 

“They  were  persons  of  good  moral  character,  and 
had  received  about  as  much  culture  as  is  common  in  the 
rural  districts  of  New  Hampshire. 

“The  child  inherited  most  of  the  physical  peculiar- 
ities of  the  mother,  with  a dash  of  what,  from  want  of 
a better  name,  is  called  the  4 scrofulous  temperament.’ 
This  temperament  makes  one  very  liable  to  certain  dis- 
eases, but  it  gives  great  delicacy  of  fibre,  and  conse- 
. quent  sensibility.  Laura  had  a physical  organization 
like  that  of  a delicate  plant,  — very  liable  to  derange- 

* Barnard’s  Am.  Journal  of  Ed  icatiori,  December,  1867  (article 
by  Dr.  S.  G.  Howe). 


2 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


ment  because  very  sensitive,  also  very  difficult  as  an 
organization  to  bring  to  maturity,  but  promising  great 
capacity  and  beauty.” 

During  her  infancy  she  was  subject  to  severe 
convulsions,  but  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months 
her  health  improved,  and  when  two  years  old,  she 
is  described  as  being  more  active  and  intelligent 
than  ordinary  children.  She  had  learned  to  speak 
a few  words,  and  knew  some  of  the  letters  of  the 
alphabet.  But  her  release  from  suffering  was  of 
short  duration ; for  a month  after,  scarlet  fever  en- 
tered the  family,  which  then  consisted  of  three 
little  girls.  Her  two  older  sisters  died  of  the 
disease,  and  Laura’s  life  long  hung  by  a very 
slender  thread.  For  seven  weeks  she  was  unable 
to  swallow  any  solid  food;  both  eyes  and  ears 
suppurated  and  discharged  their  contents,  and 
sight  and  hearing  were  destroyed.  Her  eyes  were 
very  painful,  and  for  five  months  she  was  kept  in 
a darkened  room. 

The  sense  of  smell  was  so  nearly  destroyed  that 
it  was  useless,  and  she  could  scarcely  distin- 
guish between  different  articles  of  food  by  the 
taste  ; her  only  means  of  communication  with  the 
outer  world  was  the  touch.  A year  passed  before 
she  could  walk  without  support,  and  two  years 
before  she  was  sufficiently  strong  to  sit  up  all  day. 

At  five  years  of  age  she  had  regained  her 
strength,  and  hei  mind,  which  had  been  unim- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


3 


paired  by  all  this  bodily  suffering,  now  hungered 
for  food.  The  long  sickness  had  effaced  the  rec- 
ollection of  babyhood;  the  words  once  spoken 
were  long  since  forgotten;  she  had  become  dumb, 
because  she  was  deaf.  She  must  begin  life  anew, 
and  her  thirst  for  knowledge  must  be  satisfied  by 
obtaining  such  information  as  one  sense  could 
bring.  Of  everything  she  must  feel,  and  all  the 
properties  perceivable  by  that  sense  must  be  as- 
certained. As  the  mother  moved  about  her  vari- 
ous avocations,  the  child  was  always  beside  her, 
the  little  hands  felt  every  motion,  and  soon  the 
desire  of  imitation  was  developed.  She  was 
taught  to  sew,  to  knit,  and  to  braid.  The  only 
way  of  communicating  with  her  was  by  the  sim- 
plest signs  : extending  the  hand  in  a certain  way 
meant  bread  ; raised  to  the  lips  as  if  tipping  a 
cup,  drink ; pushing  — go  ; pulling  — come  ; a pat 
on  the  head  expressed  approval ; on  the  back, 
disapproval,  etc.  She  was  affectionate  in  disposi- 
tion, but  as  she  grew  in  strength  and  age,  her 
will  developed,  and  restraint  became  more  diffi- 
cult. On  her  father  devolved  the  unpleasant 
task  of  compelling  obedience.  She  had  a friend 
in  an  old  man  who  loved  her  dearly,  and  of  whom 
she  always  in  after  life  spoke  with  the  greatest 
affection.  In  his  strong  arms  she  delighted  to  be 
carried,  and  with  him,  when  able  to  walk,  she 
rambled  through  the  fields  and  by  the  river-side, 


4 


LAURA  B RID  OMAN. 


taking  pleasure  in  throwing  stones  into  the  water, 
though  her  eye  could  not  watch  them  nor  her 
ear  hear  their  plashing. 

Only  one  case  similar  to  Laura’s  had  ever  been 
known  in  this  country,  and  that  was  Julia  Brace, 
who  lost  her  senses  of  sight  and  hearing  at  four 
years  of  age,  and  who  was  living  at  this  time  at 
the  Asylum  for  Deaf-Mutes,  in  Hartford,  Conn. 
She  had  been  taught  to  communicate  to  some 
extent,  by  signs  only.  Dr.  S.  G.  Howe,  direc- 
tor of  the  Institution  for  the  Blind  in  Boston,  had 
visited  Julia,  and  had  formed  a theory  for  reach- 
ing a mind  so  enclosed.  Hearing,  soon  after,  of 
this  little  girl  in  New  Hampshire,  he  went  to  see 
her,  and  persuaded  the  parents  to  place  her  under 
his  charge. 

She  was  brought  to  the  Institution  in  Boston, 
Oct.  12,  1837,  about  two  months  before  her 
eighth  birthday. 

Of  the  development  of  this  theory  and  its  appli- 
cation to  her  instruction,  Dr.  Howe  has  given 
brief  accounts  in  his  annual  reports,  but  as  the 
question  most  frequently  asked  is,  " What  was 
done  first?  ” I have  thought  it  desirable  to  obtain 
all  possible  information  on  that  point. 

For  the  interesting  account  which  follows  I am 
indebted  to  Mrs.  L.  H.  Morton  (Miss  Drew),  of 
Halifax,  Mass.,  who  assisted  Dr.  Howe  in  all 
these  early  lessons,  and  who  continued  to  be 


LAURA  BRWGMAN. 


5 


Laura’s  teacher  for  several  years.  She  writes  as 
follows : — 

“ Laura  was  a healthy  little  girl,  with  very  fair  com- 
plexion and  light-brown  hair  ; and  there  was  nothing  in 
her  appearance  to  distinguish  her  from  the . other  little 
blind  girls,  except  that  she  was  more  quiet  and  unde- 
monstrative. This  was,  perhaps,  because  all  were 
strangers  to  her.  She  first  made  the  acquaintance  of 
the  matron,  Mrs.  Smith,  to  whom  she  seemed  to  be 
especially  attracted,  whose  greetings  would  light  up  her 
face  with  smiles,  while  she  returned  her  caresses  with 
interest.  She  spent  her  time  in  knitting,  and  would 
take  her  work  to  Mrs.  Smith  if  she  dropped  a stitch, 
and  smile  quietly  as  it  was  returned  with  a sign  of 
approbation.  At  this  time  she  uttered  only  a little 
pleasant  noise ; but  as  she  became  better  acquainted, 
this  grew  louder  and  very  disagreeable. 

u When  I had  been  with  her  a few  days,  and  she  had 
become  accustomed  to  being  led  about  by  me,  I took 
her  one  morning  to  the  nursery ; and  having  seated 
her  by  a table,  Dr.  Howe  and  myself  commenced  her 
first  lesson.  He  had  had  printed,  in  the  raised  letters 
used  by  the  blind,  the  names  of  many  common  objects, 
such  as  knife,  fork,  spoon,  key,  bed,  chair,  stove, 
door,  etc.,  and  had  pasted  some  of  the  labels  on  the 
correspon  ling  articles.  First  we  gave  her  the  word, 
4 knife,’  on  the  slip  of  paper,  and  moved  her  fingers  over 
it,  as  the  l ind  do  in  reading.  Then  we  showed  her 
the  knife,  ai  i let  her  feel  the  label  upon  it,  and  made 
to  her  the  s^gn  which  she'  was  accustomed  to  use  to 
signify  likeness,  viz.,  placing  side  by  side  the  fore- 


6 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


fingers  of  each  hand.  She  readily  perceived  the  simi* 
larity  of  the  two  words. 

“ The  same  process  was  repeated  with  other  articles. 
This  exercise  lasted  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  She 
received  from  it  only  the  idea  that  some  of  the  labels 
were  alike,  and  others  unlike.  The  lesson  was  repeated 
in  the  afternoon,  and  on  the  next  day,  and  about  the 
third  day  she  began  to  comprehend  that  the  words  on 
the  slips  of  paper  represented  the  object  on  which  they 
were  pasted.  This  was  shown  by  her  taking  the  word 
‘ chair’  and  placing  it  first  upon  one  chair,  and  then  upon 
another,  while  a smile  of  intelligence  lighted  her  hitherto 
puzzled  countenance,  and  her  evident  satisfaction 
assured  us  that  she  had  mastered  her  first  lesson.  In 
succeeding  lessons,  the  label  having  been  given  her,  she 
would  search  for  the  article,  and  having  found  it,  place 
it  upon  it.  Then  the  operation  was  reversed,  and  hav- 
ing the  article  given,  she  found  the  proper  label. 

“ Thus  far  she  had  studied  the  words  as  a whole,  and 
it  was  now  desirable  to  have  her  form  them  herself  from 
their  component  letters.  Mr.  S.  P.  Ruggles,  who  had 
charge  of  the  printing  department,  was  called  upon  to 
construct  a case  of  metal  types.  This  contained  four 
sets  of  the  alphabet,  and  afforded  her  much  amusement 
as  well  as  profit.  She  seemed  never  to  tire  of  setting 
up  the  types  to  correspond  with  the  printed  words  with 
which  she  was  already  familiar.  All  the  letters  of  one 
alphabet  were  kept  arranged  in  their  proper  order,  while 
she  used  the  others.  In  less  than  three  days  she  had 
learned  this  order,  as  was  found  by  taking  all  the  types 
from  the  case,  and  making  a sign  to  her  to  rearrange 
them,  which  she  did  without  assistance. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


7 


“During  the  time  of  her  earliest  instruction,  it  was 
necessary  to  use  many  signs.  These  were  laid  aside, 
however,  as  soon  as  we  had  something  better  to  supply 
their  place.  As  a mark  of  approval,  I stroked  her  hair 
or  patted  her  upon  the  head ; of  disapproval,  knocked 
her  elbow  lightly. 

“Whenever  she  overcame  a difficulty,  a peculiarly 
sweet  expression  lighted  up  her  face,  and  we  perceived 
that  it  grew  daily  more  intelligent. 

“It  was  nearly  two  months  before  any  use  was  made 
of  the  manual  alphabet.  At  this  time  Dr.  Howe  gave 
me  a letter  of  introduction  to  Mr.  George  Loring,  who 
was  a deaf-mute,  and  a graduate  from  the  Institution  at 
Hartford.  In  one  afternoon  he  taught  me  the  alphabet, 
and  the  next  day  I began  to  teach  it  to  Laura,  showing 
her  the  position  of  the  fingers  to  represent  each  of  the 
types  which  she  had  been  using. 

“ The  method  of  teaching  her  new  words  afterwards 
was  as  follows : To  let  her  examine  an  object,  and 
then  teach  her  its  name  by  spelling  it  with  my  fingers. 
She  placed  her  right  hand  over  mine,  so  she  could  feel 
every  change  of  position,  and  with  the  greatest  anxiety, 
watched  for  each  letter ; then  she  attempted  to  spell  it 
herself;  and  as  she  mastered  the  word,  her  anxiety 
changed  to  delight.  Next  she  took  her  board,  and 
arranged  the  types  to  spell  the  same  word,  and  placed 
them  near  the  object,  to  show  that  she  understood  it. 

“ She  very  soon  perceived  that  spelling  the  words 
in  this  way  was  much  more  rapid,  and  attended  with 
much  less  difficulty,  than  the  old  method  with  types, 
and  immediately  applied  it  practically.  I shall  never 
forget  the  first  meal  taker  after  she  appreciated  the 


8 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


use  of  the  finger  alphabet.  Every  article  that  she 
touched  must  have  a name  ; and  I was  obliged  to  call 
some  one  to  help  me  wait  upon  the  other  children,  while 
she  kept  me  busy  in  spelling  the  new  words.  Dr.  Howe 
had  been  absent  for  some  time,  and  on  his  return  was 
much  delighted  with  the  progress  she  had  made,  and  at 
once  learned  the  manual  alphabet  himself. 

“ After  she  had  learned  a hundred  or  more  common 
nouns,  we  began  to  teach  her  the  use  of  verbs.  The 
first  were  shut,  open ; shut  door,  open  door,  accom- 
panying the  spelling  of  the  word  by  the  act.  In  this 
way  she  learned  those  in  constant  use,  and  then  we 
taught  her  adjectives,  and  the  names  of  individuals. 
In  a very  short  time  she  had  learned  the  names  of  all 
our  large  family. 

“ After  a year  she  began  to  learn  to  write.  A paste- 
board with  grooved  lines  such  as  the  blind  use,  was  placed 
between  the  folds  of  the  paper ; a letter  was  pricked 
in  stiff  paper  so  that  she  might  feel  its  shape,  and  then 
her  right  hand,  holding  the  pencil,  was  guided  to  form 
it,  the  forefinger  of  the  left  hand  following  the  point  of 
the  pencil,  guiding  the  writing,  and  keeping  the  spaces 
between  the  letters.  She  did  not  learn  to  write  well  as 
quickly  as  many  of  the  blind  children. 

“ She  was  very  social,  and  always  wished  to  have 
some  one  sit  beside  her  or  walk  with  her,  and  she 
taught  her  little  blind  friends  the  finger  alphabet. 

“ One  day  I was  passing  the  door  of  the  linen-room, 
and  saw  her  standing  upon  a chair,  examining  the  con- 
tents of  an  upper  drawer.  It  contained  pieces  of  rib- 
bon and  laces  belonging  to  the  matron.  She  took  them 
out,  felt  of  the  smooth  satin  and  the  delicate  lace,  solil- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


9 


oquized  with  her  fingers,  and  made  a motion  as  if  to 
appropriate  them,  then  knocked  her  elbow  (the  sign  of 
wrong) , and  after  some  hesitation  replaced  them.  This 
was  repeated  several  times,  and  then  I went  to  her,  and 
took  her  hand  as  if  wishing  to  speak  to  her,  when  an 
expression  of  conscious  guilt  overspread  her  face.  I 
made  her  understand  by  signs  that  she  must  not  meddle 
with  what  did  not  belong  to  her.  She  said,  4 Laura, 
wrong,  no ; Laura,  right/  patting  her  own  head,  and 
showing  me  that  she  had  not  taken  anything,  but  I 
knew  that  she  had  been  under  great  temptation  and  had 
triumphed  over  it. 

44 1 accompanied  her  on  her  first  visit  to  her  home  in 
Hanover,  in  1839.  Her  father  met  us  in  Lebanon,  and 
as  he  took  her  hand  she  recognized  him,  and  I taught 
her  the  word  4 father/  She  had  seen  her  mother  a year 
before,  and  had  learned  the  word  4 mother  * at  the  time 
of  her  visit  to  the  Institution.  Before  Laura  could  be 
persuaded  to  take  off  her  cloak  and  bonnet  after  arriv- 
ing at  home,  she  took  me  over  the  whole  house,  show- 
ing me  everything,  and  inquiring  the  names  of  things 
which  she  had  not  learned  about  in  Boston.  In  an 
unfinished  room  were  a loom  and  spinning-wheel. 
These  she  had  seen  (felt)  her  mother  use,  and  was 
very  anxious  for  their  name.  Then  she  led  me  to  the 
bee-hive  to  know  what  that  was. 

44  At  this  time  she  was  very  shy  of  gentlemen,  and 
would  hardly  approach  any  one  but  Dr.  Howe,  and  I 
thought  she  might  repel  her  father  and  her  old  friend 
Mr.  Tenny,  but,  on  the  contrary,  she  was  much  pleased 
to  walk  with  him,  as  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  doing 
before  she  left  hotne. 


10 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


“ She  was  anxious  to  have  her  mother  talk  with  her, 
and  began  at  once  to  teach  her  the  alphabet. 

“ She  seemed  so  happy  to  be  at  home  that  I feared 
she  might  object  to  return  with  me,  but  at  the  end  of  a 
fortnight  she  was  quite  willing  to  go,  and  left  her  mother 
rery  calmly.” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


11 


CHAPTER  II. 

No  regular  journal  of  Laura’s  lessons  was  kept 
until  June,  1840,  but  we  find  in  the  annual 
reports  of  Dr.  Howe  a summary  of  her  progress 
from  year  to  year,  as  well  as  a statement  of  her 
physical,  mental,  and  moral  condition. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1838,  when  she  had 
been  sixteen  months  under  instruction,  he  writes  as 
follows : — * 

“It  has  been  ascertained  beyond  the  possibility  of 
doubt  that  she  cannot  see  a ray  of  light,  cannot  hear 
the  least  sound,  and  never  exercises  her  sense  of  smell, 
if  she  has  any.  Thus  her  mind  dwells  in  darkness 
and  stillness,  as  profound  as  that  of  a closed  tomb  at 
midnight.  Of  beautiful  sights  and  sweet  sounds  and 
pleasant  odors  she  has  no  conception  ; nevertheless, 
she  seems  as  happy  and  playful  as  a bird  or  a lamb ; 
and  the  emplojunent  of  her  intellectual  faculties,  or 
acquirement  of  a new  idea,  gives  her  a vivid  pleasure, 
which  is  plainly  marked  in  her  expressive  features.  She 
never  seems  to  repine,  but  has  all  the  buoyancy  and 
gaiety  of  cnildhood.  She  is  fond  of  fun  and  frolic, 


* Seventh  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  New  England 
Institution  for  the  Blind. 


12 


LAURA  B RID  G MAX. 


and  when  playing  with  the  rest  of  the  children,  her  shrill 
laugh  sounds  loudest  of  the  group. 

When  left  alone,  she  seems  very  happy  if  she  has  her 
knitting  or  sewing,  and  will  busy  herself  for  hours  : if 
she  has  no  occupation,  she  evidently  amuses  herself  by 
imaginary  dialogues,  or  by  recalling  past  impressions  ; 
she  counts  with  her  fingers  or  spells  out  names  of 
things  which  she  has  recently  learned,  in  the  manual 
alphabet  of  the  deaf-mutes.  In  this  lonety  self-com- 
munion she  seems  to  reason,  reflect,  and  argue  ; if  she 
spells  a word  wrong  with  the  fingers  of  her  right  hand, 
she  instantly  strikes  it  with  her  left,  as  her  teacher  does, 
in  sign  of  disapprobation ; if  right,  then  she  pats  her- 
self upon  the  head,  and  looks  pleased.  She  sometimes 
purposely  spells  a word  wrong  with  the  left  hand,  looks 
roguish  for  a moment  and  laughs,  and  then  with  the 
right  hand  strikes  the  left,  as  if  to  correct  it. 

“ During  the  year  she  has  attained  great  dexterity  in 
the  use  of  the  manual  alphabet  of  the  deaf-mutes  ; and 
she  spells  out  the  words  and  sentences  which  she  knows, 
so  fast  and  so  deftly,  that  only  those  accustomed  to 
this  language  can  follow  with  the  eye  the  rapid  motion 
of  her  fingers. 

“But  wonderful  as  is  the  rapidity  with  which  she 
writes  her  thoughts  upon  the  air,  still  more  so  is  the 
ease  and  accuracy  with  which  she  reads  the  words 
thus  written  by  another,  grasping  their  hand  in  hers, 
and  following  every  movement  of  their  fingers,  as  letter 
after  letter  conveys  their  meaning  to  her  mind.  It  is  in 
this  way  that  she  converses  with  her  blind  playmates  ; 
and  nothing  can  more  forcibly  show  the  power  of  mind  in 
forcing  matter  to  its  purpose,  than  a meeting  between 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


13 


them.  For  if  great  talent  and  skill  are  necessary  for 
two  pantomimes  to  paint  their  thoughts  and  feelings  by 
the  movements  of  the  body  and  the  expression  of  the 
countenance,  how  much  greater  the  difficulty  when 
darkness  shrouds  them  both,  and  the  one  can  hear  no 
sound ! . 

“ When  Laura  is  walking  through  a passageway,  ' 
with  her  hands  spread  before  her,  she  knows  instantly 
every  one  she  meets,  and  passes  them  with  a sign  of 
recognition ; but  if  it  be  a girl  of  her  own  age,  and 
especially  if  one  of  her  favorites,  there  is  instantly  a 
bright  smile  of  recognition  and  a twining  of  arms, 
a grasping  of  hands,  and  a swift  telegraphing  upon 
the  tiny  fingers,  whose  rapid  evolutions  convey  the 
thoughts  and  feelings  from  the  outposts  of  one  mind  to 
those  of  the  other.  There  are  questions  and  answers, 
exchanges  of  joy  or  sorrows,  there  are  kissings  and 
partings,  just  as  between  little  children  with  all  their 
senses. 

“ One  such  interview  is  a better  refutation  of  the  doc- 
trine that  mind  is  the  result  of  sensation  than  folios  of 
learned  argument.  If  those  philosophers  who  consider 
man  as  only  the  most  perfect  animal,  and  attribute  his 
superiority  to  his  senses,  be  correct,  then  a dog  or  a 
monkey  should  have  mental  power  quadruple  that  of 
poor  Laura  Bridgman,  who  has  but  one  sense. 

“ During  this  year,  and  six  months  after  she  had  left 
home,  her  mother  came  to  visit  her,  and  the  scene  of 
their  meeting  was  an  interesting  one. 

“ The  mother  stood  some  time,  gazing  with  overflow- 
ing eyes  upon  her  unfortunate  child,  who,  all  uncon- 
scious of  her  presence,  tvas  playing  about  the  room. 


14 


WAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Presently  Laura  ran  against  her,  and  at  once  began 
feeling  of  her  hands,  examining  her  dress,  and  trying 
to  find  out  if  she  knew  her  ; but  not  succeeding  in  this, 
she  turned  away  as  from  a stranger,  and  the  poor 
woman  could  not  conceal  the  pang  she  felt  at  finding 
that  her  beloved  child  did  not  know  her. 

“ She  then  gave  Laura  a string  of  beads  which  she 
used  to  wear  at  home,  which  were  recognized  by  the 
child  at  once,  who  with  much  joy  put  them  around  her 
neck,  and  sought  me  eagerly,  to  say  she  understood  the 
string  was  from  her  home. 

“ The  mother  now  tried  to  caress  her,  but  poor  Laura 
repelled  her,  preferring  to  be  with  her  acquaintances. 

“ Another  article  from  home  was  now  given  her,  and 
she  began  to  look  much  interested ; she  examined  the 
stranger  much  closer,  and  gave  me  to  understand  that 
she  knew  she  came  from  Hanover.  She  even  endured 
her  caresses,  but  wodld  leave  her  with  indifference  at 
the  slightest  signal.  The  distress  of  the  mother  was 
now  painful  to  behold ; for  although  she  had  feared 
that  she  should  not  be  recognized,  the  painful  reality  of 
being  treated  with  cold  indifference  by  a darling  child 
was  too  much  for  woman’s  nature  to  bear. 

“After  a while,  on  the  mother’s  taking  hold  of  her 
again,  a vague  idea  seemed  to  flit  across  Laura’s  mind 
that  this  could  not  be  a stranger ; she  therefore  felt  of 
her  hands  very  eagerly,  while  her  countenance  assumed 
an  expression  of  intense  interest;  she  became  very- 
pale,  and  then  suddenly  red ; hope  seemed  struggling 
with  doubt  and  anxiety,  and  never  were  contending 
emotions  more  strongly  painted  upon  the  human  face. 
At  this  moment  of  painful  uncertainty,  the  mother 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


15 


drew  her  close  to  her  side,  and  kissed  her  fondly,  when 
at  once  the  truth  flashed  upo:n  the  child,  and  all  mis- 
trust and  anxiety  disappeared  from  her  face,  as  with  an 
expression  of  exceeding  joy  she  eagerly  nestled  to  the 
bosom  of  her  parent,  and  yielded  herself  to  her  fond 
embraces. 

“After  this,  the  beads  were  all  unheeded;  the  play- 
things which  were  offered  to  her  were  utterly  disre- 
garded ; her  playmates,  for  whom  but  a moment  before 
she  gladly  left  the  stranger,  now  vainly  strove  to  pull 
her  from  her  mother ; and  though  she  yielded  her 
usual  instantaneous  obedience  to  my  signal  to  follow 
me,  it  was  evidently  with  painful  reluctance.  She 
clung  close  to  me,  as  if  bewildered  and  fearful ; and 
when,  after  a moment,  I took  her  to  her  mother,  she 
sprang  to  her  arms,  and  clung  to  her  with  eager  joy. 

4 4 1 had  watched  the  whole  scene  with  intense  interest, 
being  desirous  of  learning  from  it  all  I could  of  the 
workings  of  her  mind  ; but  I now  left  them  to  indulge, 
unobserved,  those  delicious  feelings  which  those  who 
have  known  a mother’s  love  may  conceive,  but  which 
cannot  be  expressed. 

44  The  subsequent  parting  between  Laura  and  her 
mother  showed  alike  the  affection,  the  intelligence,  and 
the  resolution  of  the  child,  and  was  thus  noticed  at  the 
time : 4 Laura  accompanied  her  mother  to  the  door, 
clinging  close  to  her  all  the  way,  until  they  arrived  at 
the  threshold,  where  she  paused,  and  felt  around  to 
ascertain  who  was  near  her.  Perceiving  the  matron, 
of  whom  she  is  very  fond,  she  grasped  her  with  one 
hand,  holding  on,  convulsively,  to  her  mother  with  the 
other;  and  thus  she  stood  for  a moment,  then  she 


16 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


dropped  her  mother’s  hand,  put  her  handkerchief  to  her 
eyes,  and  turning  round,  clung,  sobbing,  to  the  matron, 
while  her  mother  departed,  with  emotions  as  deep  as 
those  of  her  child.” 

At  the  end  of  the  year  1839,  after  she  had  been 
twenty-eight  months  under  instruction,  the  follow- 
ing report  was  made  of  her  case  : — * 

“The  intellectual  improvement  of  this  interesting 
being,  and  the  progress  she  has  made  in  expressing  her 
ideas,  are  truly  gratifying. 

“ Having  mastered  the  manual  alphabet  of  the  deaf- 
mutes,  and  learned  to  spell  readily  the  names  of  every- 
thing within  her  reach,  she  was  then  taught  words 
expressive  of  positive  qualities,  as  4 hardness/  4 soft- 
ness ’ ; and  she  learned  to  express  quality  by  con- 
necting the  adjectives,  4 hard  * or  4 soft/  with  the  sub- 
stantive ; though  she  generally  followed  what  one  would  ' 
suppose  to  be  the  natural  order  in  the  succession  of 
ideas,  by  placing  the  substantive  first. 

44  It  was  found  too  difficult,  however,  then,  to  make 
her  understand  any  general  expression  of  quality,  as 
4 hardness/  4 softness/  in  the  abstract.  Indeed,  this  is 
a process  of  mind  most  difficult  of  performance  to  any, 
especially  to  deaf-mutes. 

“Next  she  was  taught  those  expressions  of  relation 
to  place  which  she  could  understand.  For  instance,  a 
ring  was  taken  and  placed  on  a box,  then  the  words 
were  spelt  to  her,  and  she  repeated  them  from  imita- 
tion. Then  the  ring  was  placed  on  a hat,  and  a sign 

* Eighth  Annual  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  Perkins  Institu- 
tion and  Massachusetts  Asylum  for  the  Blind. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


17 


given  her  to  spell.  She  spelt, 4 ring  on  box’ ; but  being 
checked,  and  the  right  words  given,  she  immediately 
began  to  exercise  her  judgment,  and,  as  usual,  seemed 
intently  thinking.  Then  the  same  was  repeated  with  a 
bag,  a desk,  and  a great  many  other  things,  until  at  last 
she  learned  that  she  must  name  the  thing  on  which  the 
article  was. 

44  Then  the  same  article  was  put  into  the  box,  and 
the  words  4 ring  in  box  ’ given  to  her.  This  puzzled  her 
for  many  minutes,  and  she  made  many  mistakes ; for 
instance,  after  she  had  learned  to  say  correctly  whether 
the  ring  was  on  or  in  a box,  a drawer,  a hat,  a bucket, 
etc.,  if  she  were  asked,  where  is  house,  or  matron,  she 
would  say,  in  box.  Cross-questioning,  however,  is 
seldom  necessary  to  ascertain  whether  she  really  under- 
stands the  force  of  the  words  she  is  learning,  for  when 
the  true  meaning  dawns  upon  her  mind,  the  light  spreads 
to  her  countenance. 

44  In  this  case,  the  perception  seemed  instantaneous, 
and  the  natural  sign  by  which  she  expressed  it  was 
peculiar  and  striking : she  spelt  o-n , then  laid  one  hand 
on  the  other ; then  she  spelt  i-n,  and  enclosed  one  hand 
within  the  other. 

44  She  easily  acquired  a knowledge  and  use  of  active 
verbs,  especially  those  expressive  of  tangible  action , as 
to  walk,  to  run,  to  sew,  to  shake. 

44  At  first,  of  course,  no  distinction  could  be  made  of 
mood  and  tense  ; she  used  the  words  in  a general  sense, 
and  according  to  the  order  of  her  sense  of  ideas.  Thus, 
in  asking  some  one  to  give  her  btcad,  she  would  first 
use  the  word  expressive  of  the  leading  idea,  and  say, 
2 


18 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


4 Bread,  give  Laura.’  If  she  wanted  water,  she  would 
say,  4 Water,  drink,  Laura.’ 

44  Soon,  however,  she  learned  the  use  of  the  auxiliary 
verbs,  of  the  difference  of  past,  present/  and  future 
tense.  For  instance,  here  is  an  early  sentence,  4 "Keller 
is  sick  ; when  will  Keller  well  ’ ? The  use  of  be  she  had 
not  acquired. 

44  Having  acquired  the  use  of  substantives,  adjec- 
tives, verbs,  prepositions,  and  conjunctions,  it  was 
thought  time  to  make  the  experiment  of  trying  to  teach 
her  to  write , and  to  show  her  that  she  might  communi- 
cate her  ideas  to  persons  not  in  contact  with  her. 

44  It  was  amusing  to  witness  the  mute  amazement 
with  which  she  submitted  to  the  process,  the  docility 
With  which  she  imitated  every  motion,  and  the  per- 
severance with  which  she  moved  her  pencil  over  and 
over  again  in  the  same  track,  until  she  could  form  the 
letter.  But  when,  at  last,  the  idea  dawned  upon  her 
that  by  this  mysterious  process  she  could  make  other 
people  understand  what  she  thought,  her  joy  was 
boundless. 

44  Never  did  a child  apply  more  eagerly  and  joyfully  to 
any  task  than  she  did  to  this  ; and  in  a few  months  she 
could  make  every  letter  distinctly,  and  separate  words 
from  each  other ; and  she  actually  wrote,  unaided,  a 
legible  letter  to  her  mother,  in  which  she  expressed 
the  idea  of  her  being  well,  and  of  her  expectation  of 
her  going  home  in  a few  weeks.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
very  rude  and  imperfect  letter,  couched  in  the  language 
which  a prattling  infant  would  use.  Still  it  shadowed 
forth,  and  expressed  to  her  mother,  the  ideas  that  were 
passing  in  her  own  mind. 


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18 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


‘ Bread,  give  Laura/  If  she  wanted  water,  she  would 
say,  4 Water,  drink,  Laura/ 

44  Soon,  however,  she  learned  the  use  of  the  auxiliary 
verbs,  of  the  difference  of  past,  present/  and  future 
tense.  For  instance,  here  is  an  early  sentence,  ‘ "Keller 
is  sick  ; when  will  Keller  well  ’ ? The  use  of  be  she  had 
not  acquired. 

44  Having  acquired  the  use  of  substantives,  adjec- 
tives, verbs,  prepositions,  and  conjunctions,  it  was 
thought  time  to  make  the  experiment  of  trying  to  teach 
her  to  write , and  to  show  her  that  she  might  communi- 
cate her  ideas  to  persons  not  in  contact  with  her. 

44  It  was  amusing  to  witness  the  mute  amazement 
with  which  she  submitted  to  the  process,  the  docility 
with  which  she  imitated  every  motion,  and  the  per- 
severance with  which  she  moved  her  pencil  over  and 
over  again  in  the  same  track,  until  she  could  form  the 
letter.  But  when,  at  last,  the  idea  dawned  upon  her 
that  by  this  mysterious  process  she  could  make  other 
people  understand  what  she  thought,  her  joy  was 
boundless. 

44  Never  did  a child  apply  more  eagerly  and  joyfully  to 
any  task  than  she  did  to  this  ; and  in  a few  months  she 
could  make  every  letter  distinctly,  and  separate  words 
from  each  other ; and  she  actually  wrote,  unaided,  a 
legible  letter  to  her  mother,  in  which  she  expressed 
the  idea  of  her  being  well,  and  of  her  expectation  of 
her  going  home  in  a few  weeks.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
very  rude  and  imperfect  letter,  couched  in  the  language 
which  a prattling  infant  would  use.  Still  it  shadowed 
forth,  and  expressed  to  her  mother,  the  ideas  that  were 
passing  in  her  own  mind. 


— Laura's  Fi  rst  Lette 
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LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


19 


“ She  is  familiar  with  the  processes  of  addition  and 
subtraction  in  small  numbers.  Subtraction  of  one 
number  from  another  puzzled  her  for  a time ; but  by 
help  of  objects  she  accomplished  it.  She  can  count  and 
conceive  objects  to  about  one  hundred  in  number ; to 
express  an  indefinitely  great  number,  or  more  than  she 
can  count,  she  says,  hundred.  If  she  thought  a friend 
was  to  be  absent  many  years,  she  would  say,  Will  come 
hundred  Sundays , meaning  weeks.  She  is  pretty  accu- 
rate in  measuring  time,  and  seems  to  have  an  intuitive 
tendency  to  do  it.  Unaided  by  the  changes  of  night 
and  day,  by  the  light,  or  the  sound  of  any  timepiece, 
she  nevertheless  divides  time  pretty  accurately. 

“ With  the  days  of  the  week,  and  the  week  itself  as 
a whole,  she  is  perfectly  familiar.  For  instance,  if 
asked,  What  day  will  it  be  in  fifteen  days  more  ? she 
readily  names  the  day  of  the  week.  The  day  she 
divides  by  the  commencement  and  end  of  school,  by 
the  recesses,  and  by  the  arrival  of  meal-times. 

“ Those  persons  who  hold  that  the  capacity  of  per- 
ceiving and  measuring  the  lapse  of  time  is  an  innate 
and  distinct  faculty  of  the  mind,  may  deem  it  an  impor- 
tant fact  that  Laura  evidently  can  measure  time  so 
accurately  as  to  distinguish  between  a half  and  whole 
note  of  music.  Seated  at  the  piano-forte,  she  will  strike 
the  notes  in  a measure  like  the  following,  quite  cor- 
rectly : — 


=t 


20 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


44  Now  it  will  be  perceived  that  she  must  have  cleai 
perception  of  lapse  of  time,  in  order  to  strike  the  two 
eighths  at  the  right  instant ; for  in  the  first  measure 
they  occur  at  the  second  beat,  in  the  second  measure 
at  the  third  beat.  She  often  asks  questions  which 
unfortunately  cannot  be  satisfactorily  answered  to  her, 
for  it  is  painful  to  excite  such  a vivid  curiosity  as  now 
exists  in  her  mind,  and  then  balk  it.  For  instance,  she 
once  asked  with  much  eagerness  why  one  arrange- 
ment of  letters  was  not  as  good  as  another  to  express 
the  name  of  a thing ; as  why  lac  should  not  express 
the  idea  of  the  animal,  as  well  as  cat.  This  she 
expressed  partly  by  signs  and  partly  by  words,  but  her 
meaning  was  perfectly  clear ; she  was  puzzled  and 
wished  an  explanation. 

4 4 An  extract  from  the  diary  kept  by  her  instructor 
will  give  an  idea  of  her  manner  of  questioning : — 

44  Dec.  5,  1839.  Spent  one  hour  in  giving  Laura  an 
idea  of  the  meaning  of  the  words  4 left*  and  4 right.’  She 
readily  conceived  that  left  hand,  meant  her  left  hand,  but 
with  difficulty  generalized  the  term.  At  last,  however, 
she  caught  the  idea,  and  eagerly  spelt  the  name  of  her 
arms,  hands,  fingers,  feet,  ears,  etc.,  as  they  were 
touched,  and  named  them,  right  or  left,  as  might  be ; 
suddenly  pausing,  however,  and  looking  puzzled,  she 
put  her  finger  on  her  nose , and  asked  if  that  were  right 
or  left ; thus  she  continually  puzzles  one  ; but  such  is  her 
eagerness  to  find  out  one’s  meaning,  such  a zealous  co- 
operation is  there  on  her  part,  that  it  is  a delightful 
task  to  teach  her. 

44  Uses  to-day  freely  the  prepositions  in  and  on;  she 
says,  4 teacher  sit  in  sofa.’  Do  not  dare  to  correct  her 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


21 


in  such  cases  of  anomalous  usage  of  the  preposition, 
but  prefer  to  let  her  be  in  error  than  to  shake  her  faith 
in  a rule  given : the  corrections  must  be  made  by  and 
by.  The  sofa  having  sides,  she  naturally  says  in. 

44  In  her  eagerness  to  advance  her  knowledge  of  words 
and  to  communicate  her  ideas  she  coins  words,  and  is 
always  guided  by  analogy.  Sometimes  her  process  of 
word-making  is  very  interesting ; for  instance,  after 
some  time  spent  in  giving  her  an  idea  of  the  abstract 
meaning  of  alone , she  seemed  to  obtain  it,  and  under- 
stood that  being  by  one’s  self  was  to  be  alone  or  al-one. 
She  was  told  to  go  to  her  chamber,  or  school,  or  else- 
where, and  return  alone ; she  did  so,  but  soon  after, 
wishing  to  go  with  one  of  the  little  girls,  she  strove  to 
express  her  meaning  thus  : 4 Laura  go  al-two .’ 

44  The  same  eagerness  is  manifested  in  her  attempts 
to  define  for  the  purpose  of  classification  ; for  instance, 
some  one  giving  her  the  word  4 bachelor’  she  came  to  her 
teacher  for  a definition  ; she  was  taught  that  men  who 
had  wives  were  husbands , those  who  had  none,  bache- 
lors; when  asked  if  she  understood  she  said,  4 man  no 
have  wife  — bachelor;  Tenny  — bachelor,’  referring  to 
an  old  friend  of  hers.  Being  told  to  define  bachelor, 
she  said,  4 bachelor,  no  have  wife,  and  smoke  pipe.’ 
Thus  she  considered  the  individual  peculiarity  of  smok- 
ing, in  one  person,  as  a specific  mark  of  the  species 
bachelor . 

4 4 Then  in  order  to  test  her  knowledge  of  the  word, 
it  was  said  by  her  teacher,  4 Tenny  has  got  no  wife, 
what  is  Tenny?’  She  paused,  and  then  said,  4 Tenny 
is  wrong.’  The  word  4 widow  ’ being  explained  to-  her,  a 
woman  whose  husband  is  dead,  and  being  called  upon 


22 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


to  define,  she  said,  ‘ Widow  is  woman,  man  dead  and 
cold/  and  eked  out  her  meaning  by  sinking  down,  and 
dropping  her  hand,  to  signify  in  the  ground. 

“ The  last  two  words  she  added  herself,  they  not 
having  been  in  the  definition ; but  she  instantly  asso- 
ciates the  idea  of  coldness  and  burial  with  death. 

“ She  had  touched  a dead  body  before  she  came  to 
the  Institution. 

“The  following  anecdote  will  give  an  idea  of  her 
fondness  for  teasing,  or  innocent  fun  or  mischief.  Her 
teacher,  looking  one  day,  unobserved,  into  the  girls* 
play-room,  saw  three  blind  girls  playing  with  the  rock- 
ing horse.  Laura  was  on  the  crupper,  another  in  the 
saddle,  and  a third  clinging  on  the  neck,  and  they  were 
all  in  high  glee,  swinging  backward  and  forward  as  far 
as  the  rockers  would  roll.  There  was  a peculiarly  arch 
look  in  Laura’s  countenance,  the  natural  language  of 
sly  fun.  She  seemed  prepared  to  give  a spring,  and 
suddenly,  when  her  end  was  lowest,  and  the  others  were 
perched  high  in  the  air,  she  sidled  quickly  off  on  to  the 
floor,  and  down  went  the  other  end  so  swiftly  as  to 
throw  the  girls  off  the  horse. 

“This  Laura  evidently  expected,  for  she  stood  a 
moment,  convulsed  with  laughter,  then  ran  eagerly 
forward  with  outstretched  hands  to  find  the  girls,  and 
almost  screamed  with  joy.  As  soon,  however,  as 
she  got  hold  of  one  of  them,  she  perceived  that  she 
was  hurt,  and  instantly  her  countenance  changed,  she 
seemed  shocked  and  grieved,  and  after  caressing  and 
comforting  her  playmate,  she  found  the  other,  and 
seemed  to  apologize  by  spelling  the  word  4 wrong/  and 
caressing  her. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


23 


“ When  she  can  puzzle  her  teacher,  she  is  pleased, 
and  often  purposely  spells  a word  wrong,  with  a playful 
look;  and  if  she  catch  her  teacher  in  a mistake,  she 
bursts  into  an  ecstasy  of  laughter. 

“ With  little  girls  of  her  own  age,  she  is  full  of  frolic 
and  fun,  and  no  one  enjoys  a game  at  romps  more  than 
Laura. 

“ She  has  the  same  fondness  for  dress,  for  ribbons, 
and  for  finery  as  other  girls  of  her  age,  and  as  a proof 
that  it  arises  from  the  same  amiable  desire  of  pleasing 
others,  it  may  be  remarked  that  whenever  she  has  a 
new  bonnet,  or  any  article  of  dress,  she  is  particularly 
desirous  to  go  to  meeting,  or  to  go  out  with  it.  If 
people  do  not  notice  it,  she  directs  their  attention  by 
placing  their  hands  upon  it. 

“ Generally  she  indicates  her  preference  for  such 
visitors  as  are  the  best  dressed. 

“ It  is  interesting,  in  a physiological  point  of  view,  to 
know  the  effect  of  the  deprivation  of  three  senses  on 
the  remaining  two. 

“ The  sense  of  smell  being  destroyed,  it  seems 
a curious  question  whether  the  effect  upon  the  organ  of 
taste  is  general  or  particular,  that  is,  whether  the  taste 
is  blunted  generally,  and  for  all  things  alike,  or  whether 
one  kind  of  sapidity  is  more  affected  than  another. 
To  ascertain  this,  some  experiments  have  been  tried, 
but  as  yet,  not  enough  to  enable  one  to  state  con- 
fidently the  results  in  minute  distinction.  The  general 
conclusions  are  these  : - — 

“ Acids  seem  to  make  vivid  and  distinct  impressions 
upon  the  taste ; and  she  apparently  distinguishes  the 
different  degrees  of  acidity  better  than  of  sweetness  or 


24 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


bitterness.  She  can  distinguish  between  wine,  cider, 
and  vinegar,  better  than  substances  like  manna,  liquor- 
ice, and  sugar.  Of  bitters  she  seems  to  have  less  per- 
ception, or,  indeed,  hardly  any ; for  on  putting  pow- 
dered rhubarb  into  her  mouth,  she  called  it  tea , and  on 
saying  no , and  telling  her  to  taste  close,  she  evident^ 
did  try  to  taste  it,  but  still  called  it  tea,  and  spit  it  out, 
but  without  any  contortion  or  any  indication  of  its  being 
particularly  disagreeable. 

“Of  course  she  has  a repugnance  to  this  kind  of 
experiments,  and  it  seems  almost  imposing  upon  her 
good-nature  to  push  them  very  far. 

“ Those  who  are  curious  in  the  physiology  of  the 
taste  know  that  the  highest  degree  of  gusto , or  the 
acme  of  pleasure,  is  not  obtained  until  just  as  the 
morsel  has  slipped  over  the  glottis,  and  is  on  its  way, 
beyond  power  of  recall,  down  the  oesophagus.  This 
seems  to  be  a wise  precaution  of  nature  to  prevent  the 
stomach  being  cheated  of  its  due ; for  if  the  highest 
degree  in  pleasure  of  eating  could  be  obtained  without 
absolutely  swallowing  the  morsel,  the  epicure  could 
have  an  exhaustless  source  of  pleasure,  and  need  never 
degenerate  into  the  gourmand. 

‘ ‘ Some  physiologists  who  have  speculated  upon  this 
subject  consider  that  this  final  climax  of  the  pleasure  of 
taste  is  produced  by  a fine  aroma  which,  rising  from  the 
morsel  and  mounting  up  the  fauces,  pleasantly  titillates 
the  ramifications  of  the  olfactory  nerve.  The  fact  that 
when  we  have  a cold  in  the  head,  and  the  fauces  are 
obstructed,  the  taste  is  blunted,  seems  to  bear  out  this 
supposition ; but  from  some  observations  on  Laura, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


25 


one  would  be  inclined  to  think  that  some  other  cause 
must  contribute  to  the  effect. 

“She  appears  to  care  less  for  the  process  of  mastica- 
tion than  deglutition  ; and  probably  it  is  only  the  neces- 
sity of  mechanical  trituration  of  foods  which  induces 
her  to  go  through  with  it,  before  hastening  to  the  pleas- 
ant part  of  swallowing.  Now,  as  the  imperfection  of 
smell  impairs  the  taste  in  the  tongue  and  palate  during 
mastication,  it  should  have  the  same  effect  in  degluti- 
tion, supposing  this  theory  to  be  correct ; but  it  seems 
not  to  be  so,  else  Laura  would  have  little  inducement 
to  swallow,  save  to  fill  a vacuity  of  stomach.  Now  it 
seems  doubtful  whether  the  feeling  of  vacuity  of  stom- 
ach, strictly  speaking,  would  show  a child  the  road  for 
the  food,  or  whether  it  would  not  be  as  likely  to  stuff 
bread  into  its  ear  as  into  its  mouth  if  it  had  no  pleas- 
urable sensation  in  tasting  ; and  further,  if  the  pleasur- 
able sensation  did  not  increase,  and  tempt  to  deglutition, 
it  is  doubtful  whether  hunger  or  vacuity  of  stomach 
alone , would  teach  a child  to  swallow  the  chewed 
morsel. 

44  On  the  whole,  she  seems  to  care  less  for  eating 
than  most  children  of  her  age. 

44  With  regard  to  the  sense  of  touch  it  is  very  acute, 
even  for  a blind  person.  It  is  shown  remarkably  in  the 
readiness  with  which  she  distinguishes  persons.  There 
are  forty  inmates  in  the  female  wing,  with  all  of  whom 
of  course  Laura  is  acquainted  ; whenever  she  is  walking 
through  the  passage-ways,  she  perceives  by  the  jar  of 
the  floor  or  the  agitation  of  the  air  that  some  one  is 
near  her,  and  it  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  pass  her  with- 
out being  recognized.  Her  little  arms  are  stretched 


26 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


out,  and  the  instant  she  grasps  a hand,  a sleeve,  or 
even  part  of  the  dress,  she  knows  the  person  and  lets 
them  pass  on  with  some  sign  of  recognition. 

4 ‘The  innate  desire  for  knowledge,  and  the  instinc- 
tive efforts  which  the  human  faculties  make  to  exercise 
their  functions,  is  shown  most  remarkably  in  Laura. 
Her  tiny  fingers  are  to  her  as  eyes  and  ears  and  nose, 
and  most  deftly  and  incessantly  does  she  keep  them  in 
motion.  Like  the  feelers  of  some  insects  which  are 
continually  agitated,  and  which  touch  every  grain  of 
sand  in  the' path,  so  Laura’s  arms  and  hands  are  con- 
tinually in  play  ; and  when  she  is  walking  with  a person 
she  not  only  recognizes  everything  she  passes  within 
touching  distance ; but  by  continually  touching  her 
companion’s  hands  she  ascertains  what  he  is  doing.  A 
person  walking  across  a room  while  she  had  hold  on  his 
left  arm,  would  find  it  hard  to  take  a pencil  out  of  his 
waistcoat  pocket  with  his  right  hand,  without  her  per- 
ceiving it. 

“ Her  judgment  of  distances  and  of  relations  of  place 
is  very  accurate  ; she  will  rise  from  her  seat,  go  straight 
towards  a door,  put  out  her  hand  just  at  the  right  time, 
and  grasp  the  handle  with  precision. 

“When  she  runs  against  a door  which  is  shut,  but 
which  she  expects  to  find  open,  she  does  not  fret,  but 
rubs  her  head  and  laughs,  as  though  she  perceived  the 
ludicrous  position  of  a person  flat  against  a door  trying 
to  walk  through  it. 

“The  constant  and  tireless  exercise  of  her  feelers 
gives  her  a very  accurate  knowledge  of  everything 
about  the  house ; so  that  if  a new  article,  a bundle, 
bandbox,  or  even  a new  book  is  laid  anywhere  in  the 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


27 


apartments  which  she  frequents,  it  would  be  but  a short 
time  before  in  her  ceaseless  rounds  she  would  find  it, 
and  from  something  about  it,  she  would  generally  dis- 
cover to  whom  it  belonged. 

14  She  perceives  the  approach  of  persons  by  the 
undulations  of  the  air  striking  her  face,  and  she  can 
distinguish  the  step  of  those  who  tread  hard  and  jar 
the  floor. 

“ At  table,  if  told  to  be  still,  she  sits  and  conducts 
herself  with  propriety;  handles  her  cup,  spoon,  and 
fork  like  other  children  ; so  that  a stranger  looking  at 
her  would  take  her  for  a very  pretty  child  with  a green 
ribbon  over  her  eyes. 

u But  when  at  liberty  to  do  as  she  chooses,  she  is 
continually  feeling  of  things,  and  ascertaining  their 
size,  shape,  density,  and  use,  asking  their  names  and 
their  purposes,  going  on  with  insatiable  curiosity,  step 
by  step,  towards  knowledge. 

“ Thus  doth  her  active  mind,  though  all  silent  and 
darkling  within,  commune  by  means  of  her  one  sense 
with  things  external,  and  gratify  its  innate  craving  for 
knowledge  by  close  and  ceaseless  attention. 

“ Qualities  and  appearances,  unappreciable  or  un- 
heeded by  others,  are  to  her  of  great  significance  and 
value  ; and  by  means  of  these  her  knowledge  of  exter- 
nal nature  and  physical  relations  will  in  time  become 
extensive.” 


28 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  III. 

In  June,  1840,  her  teacher,  Miss  Drew,  re- 
turned, after  an  absence  of  six  months.  From 
her  journal  of  the  remainder  of  the  year  we  quote 
items  of  interest.  Before  commencing  the  sum- 
mer term  she  accompanied  Laura  on  a visit  to 
her  parents.  Her  health  was  very  delicate,  and 
she  suffered  much  from  pain  in  her  side,  which 
she  attributed  entirely  to  the  long  journey.  This 
she  expressed  in  the  following  words,  which  give 
the  reader  a very  good  idea  of  her  use  of  language 
at  this  date  : " When  Laura  did  go  to  see  mother, 
ride  did  make  Laura  side  ache  ; horse  was  wrong,  — 
did  not  run  softly.”  While  at  breakfast  one  day, 
she  asked,  "Who  did  make  egg?”  Hen.  “ With 
foot?”  No.  "Laura  do  love  egg.  Hen  must 
make  more  egg.”  June  20  she  received  her  first 
lesson  in  arithmetic  on  the  metallic  case  used  by 
the  blind.  This  is  perforated  with  square  holes, 
and  two  square  types  are  used  to  represent  the 
digits.  The  corner  of  one  end  is  raised,  and 
represents  1,  3,  7,  and  9,  according  to  position  in 
the  board  or  case.  On  the  other  end  of  the  same 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


29 


type  is  a diagonal  line  and  a raised  corner  repre- 
senting 2,  4,  6,  8.  The  second  type  has,  on  one 
end,  simply  a diagonal  line,  representing  5 ; the 
other  end,  which  is  flat,  0.  She  was  delighted  with 
her  lesson,  as  she  always  is  with  anything  new ; 
but  it  took  several  days  to  make  her  understand 
the  connection  between  the  position  of  the  type 
in  the  aperture  and  its  significance.” 

44  July  9.  She  had  learned  to  add  a column  of 
figures  amounting  to  thirty. 

44  For  a month  she  was  not  well,  and  so  excessively 
nervous  that  her  lessons  were  omitted. 

“Aug.  20.  A gentleman  called  to  see  Laura  who 
was  going  to  Hartford.  She  had  been  told  that  there 
was  a person  in  the  asylum  there  who  was  deaf,  dumb, 
and  blind,  and  asked  if  she  might  send  her  a letter. 
She  wrote,  4 Julia  Brace  cannot  see  and  hear,  — sorry, 
— Laura  is  blind  and^  deaf/ 

44  Aug.  22.  She  was  asked  by  her  teacher  to  go  to 
the  school-room  to  find  a lead  pencil,  and  told  that  she 
did  not  know  on  which  desk  it  was.  She  returned 
bringing  the  pencil,  and  said,  4 Laura  cannot  find 
which/  She  had  had  several  lessons  upon  the  pro- 
nouns, I and  you,  and  had  used  them  properly,  but 
never  had  learned  any  others. 

44  Aug.  24.  Gave  her  sentences  introducing  if,  or, 
which,  and  the  past  tense  of  the  verbs  come  and  go. 

44  Aug.  26.  She  was  very  impatient  while  writing 
for  company,  and  at  last  said,  4 1 do  not  want  to  write 
for  twenty  ladies/ 

44  Aug.  31.  Taught  her  the  words  Mr.,  Mrs.,  Miss. 


30 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


She  asked  if  she  was  Miss  Laura.  She  uses  the  words 
‘me’  and  ‘my’  correctly  to-day.  If,  by  chance,  she 
converses  with  any  one  who  uses  proper  names  where 
pronouns  should  be  used,  she  looks  very  wise,  and 
knocks  the  person’s  elbow,  and  threatens  to  complain 
of  her  to  her  teacher. 

44  Sept.  2.  Her  lesson  was  upon  the  formation  of  the 
plural.  She  wishes  to  form  them  all  by  adding  4 s,’  but 
quite  dislikes  the  idea  that  some  nouns  ending  in  4 ey  * 
must  have  an  4 s’  while  others  change  to  4 ies.’ 

44  Sept.  7.  Laura  came  to  me  saying,  4 Dog  did  come 
in  school-room.  Susan  did  strike  dog,  — dog  was 
wrong  to  come  in  school-room,’  and  then  she  laughed 
aloud  at  the  idea  of  a dog  coming  to  school.  That  I 
might  see  what  reply  she  would  make,  I told  her  she 
must  teach  the  dog.  She  asked,  4 Can  dog  learn?  Can 
dog  talk  with  fingers  ? ’ and  added,  laughing  heartily, 
4 Dog  has  no  fingers.* 

44  Sept.  8.  Dr.  R.  visited  the  school  to-day  and  was 
much  interested  in  Laura,  but  it  was  impossible  to  make 
her  converse  about  anything.  She  wrote  badly,  and 
seemed  anxious  to  go  away  to  play.  In  the  afternoon, 
I told  her  I was  sorry  she  was  not  good  when  Dr.  R. 
was  here  ; she  very  adroitly  changed  the  subject,  ask- 
ing, 4 Has  Dr.  R.  got  little  cow  in  home? * 

44  Sept.  11.  A visitor  at  the  school  said  he  had  a 
deaf  and  dumb  boy  at  home.  I repeated  it  to  Laura 
thus,  4 Man  has  little  boy  who  cannot  see  and  hear.* 
She  wrote  as  a specimen  of  her  writing,  4 1 am  sorry 
who  cannot  see  and  hear.  I am  blind  and  deaf.*  She 
probably  thought  that  4 who  * was  the  name  of  the  boy. 

• 44  Nov.  5.  Find  u difficult  to  make  her  comprehend 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


31 


the  use  of  it,  they,  them.  Speaking  of  a lady  who  has 
died,  and  whom  she  saw  in  Hanover  two  years  ago,  she 
said,  4 Will  Mrs.  M.  come  hack  when  sun  is  warm? 
where  is  Mrs.  M.  ? are  you  sorry  not  to  see  Mrs.  M.  ? * 

44  Nov.  6.  She  asked,  4 Where  are  flies  gone?’  I 
told  her  the  cold  made  the  flies  die.  4 Will  flies  come 
when  warm?’  Yes.  4 1 am  sorry  lady  will  not  come 
when  warm.’ 

“Nov.  11.  In  Laura’s  lesson  in  arithmetic  I told 
her  she  was  4 adding.’  She  thought  a moment,  and 
said,  4 1 added  yesterday  and  counted.’  I said,  4 1 will 
tell  doctor  you  can  add  very  good.’  4 When  will  you  tell 
him?  ’ 4 After  dinner,  if  I see  him.’  She  immediately 

said,  4 If  he  will  not  go  to  Boston,’  showing  that  she 
applies  if  correctly  at  last.  In  one  of  her  sums  the 
answer  consisted  of  four  figures,  and  she  did  not  know 
the  name  of  thousands.  I explained  that  one  thousand 
was  the  same  as  ten  hundred,  and  she  read  the  number 
1875,  4 ten  hundred,  and  eight  hundred,  and  seventy- 
five.’ 

44  Nov.  18.  Laura  has  lately  reported  many  misdeeds 
of  her  playmates.  To-day  she  came  to  say,  4 Olive 
pinched  very  hard.  You  must  knock  Olive  very  much 
hard,  she  pinched  and  was  wrong.’ 

44  Nov.  29.  Our  little  blind  pupil,  Adeline,  breathed 
her  last  this  afternoon.  Her  death,  although  every 
hour  expected,  came  like  a chill  upon  all  our  hearts,  for 
she  was  beloved  by  us  all.  The  little  girls  of  her  own 
age  were  much  affected.  Laura  was  puzzled ; she  could 
not  understand  the  mystery  of  death,  but  she  seemed 
grieved,  and  asked,  4 Will  Adeline’s  mother  cry  and  be 
very  sorry?  Is  she  cold  and  stiff?  What  is  die? * 


32 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


“ Dec.  2.  Laura  was  much  grieved  that  she  could 
not  go  to  Cambridge  4 to  see  Adeline/  and  asked  many 
questions,  which  it  was  impossible  to  answer.  4 Where 
is  Adeline  ? can  she  breathe  ? when  will  she  be  well  ? ’ 

44  Dec.  12.  Laura  has  been  confined  to  her  bed  for 
several  days,  but  was  able  to  sit  up  to-day.  She  highly 
enjoys  being  comfortably  sick,  and  it  delights  her  to  sit 
in  a rocking-chair  with  a shawl  wrapped  around  her, 
and  then  to  be  served  with  such  delicacies  as  she  thinks 
proper  for  an  invalid,  as  roasted  apple,  cracker  toast, 
etc. 

44  Dec.  30.  She  was  in  the  dining-room  closet,  where 
there  were  some  apples,  and  told  the  little  girl  who  was 
with  her  she  wanted  an  apple.  Elizabeth  gave  her  one, 
but  she  refused  it,  and  said,  4 No,  Elizabeth  must  ask 
Mrs.  Smith  if  she  can  give  me  apple.’  I have  observed 
frequently  that  she  will  not  take  anything  that  she 
knows  does  not  belong  to  her.  At  one  time  a piece  of 
candy  lay  upon  my  table  ; she  touched  it  accidentally, 
took  it  up,  and  made  a sign  that  she  would  eat  it,  then 
laid  it  down  again,  and  knocked  her  elbow  as  if  she 
had  done  wrong  to  take  it  up,  and  shook  her  head  to 
signify  it  was  not  hers.” 

In  the  Ninth  Annual  Report  to  the  Trustees  at 
the  close  of  the  year  1840,  Dr.  Howe  writes  : — 

44 1 shall  now  notice  such  of  the  phenomena  that  I 
have  remarked  in  her  case  during  the  last  year,  as  seem 
most  striking  and  important. 

“Her  health  has  been  very  good.  She  has  not 
grown  much  in  height,  but  her  frame  has  filled  out. 

44  A perceptible  change  has  taken  place  in  the  size 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


33 


and  shape  of  her  head  ; and  although  unfortunately  the 
measurement  taken  two  3'ears  ago  has  been  mislaid, 
every  one  who  has  been  well  acquainted  with  her 
notices  a marked  increase  in  the  size  of  the  forehead. 
She  is  now  just  eleven  years  old ; her  height  is  four 
feet  four  inches  and  seven  tenths.  Her  head  measures 
twenty  inches  and  eight  tenths  in  circumference,  in  a 
line  drawn  around  it,  and  passing  over  the  prominences 
of  the  parietal  and  those  of  the  frontal  bones ; above 
this  line  the  head  rises  one  inch  and  one  tenth,  and  is 
broad  and  full.  The  measurement  is  four  inches  from 
one  orifice  of  the  ear  to  the  other  ; and  from  the  occip- 
ital spine  to  the  root  of  the  nose,  it  is  seven  inches. 

“ Nothing  has  occurred  to  indicate  the  slightest  per- 
ception of  light  or  sound,  or  any  hope  of  it ; and  al- 
though some  of  those  who  are  much  with  her  suppose 
that  her  smell  is  more  acute  than  it  was,  even  this 
seems  very  doubtful. 

“ It  is  true  that  she  sometimes  applies  things  to  her 
nose,  but  often  it  is  merely  in  imitation  of  the  blind 
children  about  her ; and  it  is  unaccompanied  by  that 
peculiar  lighting  up  of  the  countenance  which  is  ob- 
servable whenever  she  discovers  any  new  quality  in  an 
object. 

“ It  was  stated  in  the  first  report  that  she  could  per- 
ceive very  pungent  odors,  such  as  that  of  cologne  ; but 
it  seemed  to  be  as  much  by  the  irritation  it  produced 
upon  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nares  as  by  any  im- 
pression upon  the  olfactory  nerve. 

“ It  is  clear  that  the  sensation  cannot  be  pleasurable, 
nor  even  a source  of  information  to  her  respecting 
physical  qualities ; for  such  is  her  eagerness  to  gain 


34 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


this  information,  that  could  smell  serve  her,  she  would 
exercise  it  incessantly. 

“ Those  who  have  seen  Julia  Brace,  or  any  other 
deaf-blind  person,  would  hardly  fail  to  observe  how 
quickly  they  apply  everjffhing  which  they  feel  to  the 
nose,  and  how,  by  this  incessant  exercise,  the  smell 
becomes  almost  incredibly  acute.  Now  with  Laura 
this  is  not  the  case ; she  seldom  puts  a new  thing  to 
her  nose,  and  when  she  does,  it  is  mechanically,  as  ik 
were,  and  without  any  interest. 

u Her  sense  of  touch  has  evidently  improved  in 
acuteness ; for  she  now  distinguishes  more  accurately 
the  different  undulations  of  the  air,  or  the  vibrations  of 
the  floor,  than  she  did  last  year.  She  perceives  very 
readily  when  a door  is  opened  or  shut,  though  she  may 
be  sitting  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  room.  She  per- 
ceives also  the  tread  of  persons  upon  the  floor. 

“ Her  mental  perceptions,  resulting  from  sensation, 
are  much  more  rapid  than  they  were,  for  she  now  per- 
ceives, by  the  slightest  touch,  qualities  and  conditions 
of  things,  similar  to  those  she  had  formerly  to  feel  long 
and  carefully  for.  So  with  persons ; she  recognizes 
her  acquaintances  in  an  instant,  by  touching  their 
hands  or  their  dress  ; and  there  are  probably  fifty  indi- 
viduals who,  if  they  should  stand  in  a row,  and  hold 
out  each  a hand  to  her,  would  be  recognized  by  that 
alone . 

4k  The  memory  of  these  sensations  is  very  vivid,  and 
she  will  readily  recognize  a person  whom  she  has  thus 
once  touched.  Many  cases  of  this  kind  have  been 
noticed  ; such  as  a person  shaking  hands  with  her,  and 
making  a peculiar  pressure  with  one  finger,  and  repeat* 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


35 


/ng  this  on  his  second  visit  after  a lapse  of  many 
months,  being  instantly  known  by  her.  She  has  been 
known  to  recognize  persons  whom  she  had  thus  simply 
shaken  hands  with  but  once,  after  a lapse  of  six 
months. 

“This  is  not  more  wonderful,  indeed,  than  that  one 
should  be  able  to  recall  impressions  made  upon  the 
mind  through  the  organ  of  sight,  as  when  we  recognize 
a person  of  whom  we  had  but  one  glimpse  a year  be 
fore ; but  it  shows  the  exhaustless  capacity  of  those 
organs  of  sense  which  the  Creator  has  bestowed,  as  it 
were  in  reserve  against  accidents,  and  which  we  usu- 
ally allow  to  live  unused  and  unvalued. 

“ The  progress  which  she  has  made  in  intellectual  ac- 
quirements can  be  fully  appreciated  by  those  only  who 
have  seen  her  frequently.  The  improvement,  however, 
is  made  evident  by  her  greater  command  of  language, 
and  by  the  conception  which  she  now  has  of  the  force 
of  parts  of  speech  which  last  year  she  did  not  use 
in  her  simple  sentences ; for  instance,  of  pronouns, 
which  she  has  begun  to  nse  within  six  months.  This 
ivill  be  seen  by  an  extract  from  the  diary  of  one  of  her 
teachers  written  last  month,  Dec.  18 : ‘ To-day  Laura 
asked  me,  “ What  is  voice?”  I told  her  as  well  as  I 
could  that  it  was  the  noise  people  make  when  they 
talk  with  their  mouths.  She  then  said,  “I  do  not 
voice.”  I said,  “Can  you  talk  with  your  mouth?” 
Answer:  “ No.”  “ Why?”  “ Because  I am  very  deaf 
and  dumb.”  “Can  you  see?”  “ No,  because  I am 
blind,  I did  not  talk  with  fingers  when  I came  with  my 
mother,  doctor  did  teach  me  on  fork.”  “What  was 
on  fork  ? ” I told  her  paper  was  fixed  on  forks.  She 


36 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


then  said,  44  I did  learn  to  read  much  with  types,  doc- 
tor did  teach  me  in  nursery.  Drusilla  was  very  sick  all 
over.”  * 

44  The  words  here  given  (and  indeed  in  all  cases)  are 
precisely  as  she  used  them  ; for  great  care  is  taken  to 
note  them  at  the  time  of  utterance.  It  will  be  observed 
that  she  uses  the  pronoun,  personal  and  possessive ; 
and  so  ready  is  she  to  conceive  the  propriety  of  it,  and 
the  impropriety  of  her  former  method,  that  upon  my 
recently  saying,  4 Doctor  will  teach  Laura,’  she  eagerly  ! 
shook  my  arm  to  correct  me,  and  told  me  to  say,  ‘ 1 
will  teach  you .’  She  is  delighted  when  she  can  catch 
any  one  in  an  error  like  this  ; and  she  shows  her  sense 
of  the  ludicrous  by  laughter,  and  gratifies  her  innocent 
self-esteem  by  displaying  her  knowledge . 

44  She  easily  learned  the  difference  between  the  sin- 
gular and  plural  form,  but  was  inclined  for  some  time 
to  apply  the  rule  of  adding  a,  universally.  For  in- 
stance, at  her  first  lesson  she  had  the  words,  arm,  arms, 
hand , hands,  etc.  ; then  being  asked  to  form  the  plural 
of  box,  she  said  boxs,  and  for  a long  time  she  would 
form  the  plural  by  the  general  rule,  as  lady,  ladys,  etc. 

“One  of  the  girls  had  the  mumps;  Laura  learned 
the  name  of  the  disease  ; and  soon  after  she  had  it  her- 
self, but  she  had  the  swelling  only  on  one  side ; and 
some  one  saying, 4 You  have  got  the  mumps,’  she  replied 
quickly,  4 No,  I have  mump.’ 

44  With  pronouns  she  had  very  little  difficulty.  It 
yas  thought  best  at  first  to  talk  with  her  as  one  does 
with  an  infant ; and  she  learned  to  reply  in  the  same 
Way.  4 Laura  want  water,  give  Laura  water  ’ ; but  she 
readily  learned  to  substitute  the  pronoun,  and  now  says. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


37 


1 Give  me  water.  I want  water,’  etc.  Indeed,  she  will 
not  allow  persons  to  address  her  in  the  third  person, 
but  instantly  corrects  them,  being  proud  to  show  her 
knowledge. 

“ She  learned  the  difference  between  present  and 
past  tense  the  last  year,  but  made  use  of  the  auxilia- 
ries ; during  this  year  she  has  learned  the  method  of 
inflecting  the  verb.  In  this  process  too  her  perfect 
simplicity  rebukes  the  clumsy  irregularities  of  our  lan- 
guage. She  learned,  jump,  jumped,  walk,  walked,  etc., 
until  she  had  an  idea  of  the  mode  of  forming  the  im- 
perfect tense,  but  when  she  came  to  the  word  see,  she 
insisted  that  it  should  be  seed  in  the  imperfect,  and 
after  this,  upon  going  down  to  dinner,  she  asked  if  it 
was  eat , eated , but  being  told  it  was  ate,  she  seemed  to 
try  to  express  the  idea  that  this  transposition  of  letters 
was  not  only  wrong  but  ludicrous,  for  she  laughed 
heartily. 

‘ 4 The  eagerness  with  which  she  followed  up  these 
exercises  was  very  delightful ; and  the  pupil,  teasing 
the  teacher  for  more  words,  is  in  pleasing  contrast  with 
the  old  method,  where  all  the  work  was  on  one  side, 
and  where  the  coaxing  and  scolding,  and  birchen  appli- 
ances to  boot,  often  failed  to  force  an  idea  into  the 
mind  in  the  proper  shape.  But  Laura  is  always  ready 
for  a lesson,  and  generally  has  prepared,  beforehand, 
a number  of  questions  to  put  to  her  teacher ; for 
instance,  when  she  was  learning  past  tenses,  she  came 
one  morning  with  fourteen  verbs,  of  which  she  knew 
the  present  form,  to  ask  for  the  imperfect. 

“The  most  recent  exercises  have  been  upon  those 
tfords  which  would  require  attention  to  one’s  own 


88 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


mental  operations,  such  as  remember,  forget,  expect, 
hope,  etc. 

44  Greater  difficulties  have  been  experienced  in  these 
than  in  her  former  lessons  ; but  they  have  been  so  far 
surmounted  that  she  uses  many  words  of  this  kind  with 
a correct  perception  of  their  meaning. 

“The  day  after  her  first  lesson  on  the  words,  ‘I  re- 
member ’ and  4 I forget/  this  memorandum  was  made  of 
her  second  lesson  on  the  same  words.  Question : 4 What 
do  you  remember  you  did  do  last  Sunday?’  Answer: 

4 I remember  not  to  go  to  meeting  ’ (meaning  that  she 
did  not  go  to  meeting) . Question : 4 What  do  you  re-  * 
member  you  did  on  Monday?’  Answer : 4 To  walk  in 
streets,  on  snow  ’ (this  was  correct) . Question : 4 What 
do  you  remember  you  did  in  vacation?’  Answer: 

4 What  is  vacation  ? ’ This  was  a new  word  to  her. 
She  had  been  accustomed  to  say,  4 When  is  no  school,’ 
or,  4 When  girls  go  home.’  The  word  being  explained, 
she  said,  4 1 remember  to  go  to  Halifax  ’ (meaning  that 
she  did  go  to  Halifax,  which  was  true) . 4 What  do 

you  remember  you  did  in  vacation  before  ? ’ Answer : 

4 To  play  with  Olive,  Maria,  and  Lydia*  (these  were 
the  girls  who  had  been  her  companions) . 

44  Wishing  to  make  her  use  the  word  4 forget,’  I 
pushed  the  questions  back  to  periods  which  she 
could  not  recall.  I said,  c What  did  you  do  when  you 
were  a little  baby?’  She  replied,  laughing,  4 1 did 
cry,’  and  made  the  sign  of  tears  running  down  her 
cheeks. 

44  4 What  did  you  say  V No  answer.  4 Did  you  talk 
with  fingers  ? ’ 4 No  ’ (very  decidedly) . 4 Did  you  talk 

with  mouth  ? ’ A pause.  4 What  did  you  say  with  mouth  ? * 


LAURA  B RID  OMAN. 


39 


1 1 forget.’  I then  quickly  let  her  know  that  this  was 
the  proper  word,  and  of  the  same  force  as  4 1 do  not 
remember.’  Thinking  this  to  be  a good  opportunity  of 
testing  her  recollection  of  her  infancy,  many  questions 
were  put  to  her  ; but  all  that  could  be  learned  satisfac- 
torily was  that  she  could  recollect  lying  on  her  back, 
and  in  her  mother’s  arms,  and  having  medicines  poured 
down  her  throat,  or,  in  her  own  words,  4 I remember 
mother  to  give  me  medicines  ’ (making  the  signs  of 
lying  down  and  of  pouring  liquids  down  the  throat) . 

“ It  was  not  until  after  she  had  learned  a few  words 
of  this  kind  that  it  was  possible  to  carry  her  mind 
backwards  to  her  infancy  ; and  to  the  best  of  my  judg- 
ment, she  has  no  recollection  of  any  earlier  period  than 
the  long  and  painful  illness  in  which  she  lost  her  senses. 
She  seems  to  have  no  recollection  of  any  words  of 
prattle  which  she  might  have  learned  in  the  short 
respite  which  she  enjoyed  from  bodily  suffering. 

“ Thus  far,  her  progress  in  the  acquisition  of  lan- 
guage has  been  such  as  one  would  infer,  a priori,  from 
philosophical  considerations ; and  the  successive  steps 
have  been  nearly  such  as  Monboddo  supposed  were 
taken  by  savages  in  the  formation  of  their  language. 

u But  it  shows  clearly  how  valuable  language  is,  not 
only  for  the  expression  of  thought,  but  for  aiding  men- 
tal development  and  exercising  the  higher  intellectual 
faculties. 

“ When  Laura  first  began  to  use  words,  she  evidently 
had  no  idea  of  any  other  use  than  to  express  the  indi- 
vidual existence  of  things,  as  book,  spoon,  etc.  The 
sense  of  touch  had,  of  course,  given  her  an  idea  of 
their  existence,  and  of  their  individual  characteristics  ; 


40 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


but  one  would  suppose  that  specific  differences  would 
have  been  suggested  to  her  also  ; that  is,  that  in  feeling 
of  many  books,  spoons,  etc.,  she  would  have  reflected 
that  some  were  large,  some  small,  some  heavy,  some 
light,  and  been  ready  to  use  words  expressive  of  the 
specific  and  generic  character.  But  it  would  seem  not 
to  have  been  so,  and  her  first  use  of  the  words  great, 
small,  heavy,  etc.,  was  to  express  merely  individual 
peculiarities ; great  book  was  to  her  the  double  name 
of  a particular  book ; heavy  stone  was  one  particular 
stone  ; she  did  not  consider  those  terms  as  expressive 
of  substantive  specific  differences,  or  any  differences  of 
quality  ; the  words  great  and  heavy  were  not  considered 
abstractly,  as  the  name  of  a general  quality,  but  they 
were  blended  in  her  mind  with  the  name  of  the  objects 
in  which  they  existed.  At  least  such  seemed  to  me  to 
be  the  case,  and  it  was  not  until  some  time  after,  that 
the  habit  of  abstraction  enabled  her  to  apply  words  of 
generic  signification  in  their  proper  way. 

“ This  view  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  that  when  she 
learned  that  persons  had  both  individual  and  family 
names,  she  supposed  that  the  same  rule  must  apply  to 
inanimate  things,  and  asked  earnestly  what  was  the 
other  name  for  chair,  table,  etc. 

“Several  of  the  instances  which  have  been  quoted 
will  show  her  disposition  to  form  her  words  by  rule,  and 
to  admit  of  no  exceptions  ; having  learned  to  form  the 
plurals  by  adding  s,  the  imperfect  by  adding  ed,  etc., 
she  would  apply  this  to  every  new  noun  or  verb,  conse- 
quently the  difficulty  hitherto  has  been  greater,  and  her 
progress  slower,  than  it  will  be,  for  she  has  mastered 
the  most  common  words,  and  these  seem  to  be  the  onep 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


41 


that  have  been  the  most  broken  up  by  the  rough  collo- 
quial usage  of  unlettered  people. 

The  notice  of  her  intellectual  progress  has  thus  far 
related  to  the  acquisition  of  language,  and  this,  to  her, 
was  the  principal  occupation  ; other  children  learn  lan- 
guage by  mere  imitation  and  without  effort ; she  has  to 
ask  by  a slow  method  the  name  of  every  new  thing ; 
other  children  use  words  which  they  do  not  understand, 
but  she  wishes  to  know  the  force  of  every  expression. 
Her  knowledge  of  language,  however,  is  no  criterion  of 
her  knowledge  of  things,  nor  has  she  been  taught  mere 
words.  She  is  like  a child  placed  in  a foreign  country, 
where  one  or  two  persons  only  know  her  language,  and 
she  is  constantly  asking  of  them  the  names  of  the 
objects  around  her. 

The  moral  qualities  of  her  nature  have  also  developed 
themselves  more  clearly.  She  is  remarkably  correct  in 
her  deportment,  and  few  children  of  her  age  evince  so 
much  sense  of  propriety  in  regard  to  appearance. 
Never,  by  any  possibility,  is  she  seen  out  of  her  room 
with  her  dress  disordered  ; and  if,  by  chance,  any  spot 
of  dirt  is  pointed  out  to  her  on  her  person,  or  any  little 
rent  in  her  dress,  she  discovers  a sense  of  shame,  and 
hastens  to  remove  it. 

44  She  is  never  discovered  in  an  attitude  or  an  action 
at  which  the  most  fastidious  would  revolt,  but  is  remark- 
able for  neatness,  order,  and  propriety. 

4 4 There  is  one  fact  which  is  hard  to  explain  in  any 
way  : it  is  the  difference  of  her  deportment  to  persons  of 
different  sex.  This  was  observable  when  she  was  onh 
seven  years  old.  She  is  very  affectionate,  and  when 
with  her  friends  of  her  own  sex  she  is  constantly  cling- 


42  • 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


ing  to  them,  and  often  kissing  and  caressing  them  ; and 
when  she  meets  with  strange  ladies,  she  very  soon  be- 
comes  familiar,  examines  very  freely  their  dress,  and 
readily  allows  them  to  caress  her.  But  with  those  of 
the  other  sex  it  is  entirely  different,  and  she  repels  every 
approach  to  familiarity.  She  is  attached,  indeed,  to 
some,  and  is  fond  of  being  with  them  ; but  she  will  not 
sit  upon  their  knees,  for  instance,  or  allow  them  to  take 
her  around  the  waist,  or  submit  to  those  innocent  famil- 
iarities which  it  is  common  to  take  with  children  of  her 
age. 

“ She  seems  to  have,  also,  a remarkable  degree  of 
conscientiousness  for  one  of  her  age  ; she  respects  the 
rights  of  others,  and  will  insist  upon  her  own. 

“ She  is  fond  of  acquiring  property,  and  seems  to 
have  an  idea  of  ownership  of  things  which  she  has  long 
since  laid  aside,  and  no  longer  uses.  She  has  never 
been  known  to  take  anything  belonging  to  another ; and 
never  but  in  one  or  two  instances  to  tell  a falsehood, 
and  then  only  under  strong  temptation.  Great  care, 
indeed,  has  been  taken  not  to  terrify  her  by  punish- 
ment, or  to  make  it  so  severe  as  to  tempt  her  to  avoid 
it  by  duplicity,  as  children  so  often  do. 

“ When  she  has  done  wrong,  her  teacher  lets  her 
know  that  she  is  grieved,  and  the  tender  nature  of  the 
child  is  shown  by  the  ready  tears  of  contrition  and 
the  earnest  assurances  of  amendment  with  which  she 
strives  to  comfort  those  whom  she  has  pained. 

“ When  she  has  done  anything  wrong,  and  grieved  her 
teacher,  she  does  not  strive  to  conceal  it  from  her  little 
companions,  but  communicates  it  to  them,  tells  them 
‘ it  is  wrojig/  and  says,  4 cannot  love  wrong  girl.' 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


43 


“ When  she  has  anything  nice  given  to  her,  she  is 
particularly  desirous  that  those  who  happen  to  be  ill,  or 
afflicted  in  any  way,  should  share  with  her,  although 
they  may  not  be  those  whom  she  particularly  loves  in 
other  circumstances  ; nay,  even  if  it  be  one  whom  she 
dislikes.  She  loves  to  be  employed  in  attending  the 
sick,  and  is  most  assiduous  in  her  simple  attentions  and 
tender  and  endearing  in  her  demeanor. 

“It  has  been  remarked  in  former  reports  that  she 
can  distinguish  different  degrees  of  intellect  in  others, 
and  that  she  soon  regarded,  almost  with  contempt,  a new- 
comer, when,  after  a few  days,  she  discovered  her  weak- 
ness of  mind.  This  unamiable  part  of  her  character  has 
been  more  strongly  developed  during  the  past  year. 

“ She  chooses  for  her  friends  and  companions  those 
children  who  are  intelligent,  and  can  talk  best  with  her ; 
and  she  evidently  dislikes  to  be  with  those  who  are 
deficient  in  intellect,  unless,  indeed,  she  can  make  them 
serve  her  purposes,  which  she  is  evidently  inclined  to 
do.  She  takes  advantage  of  them,  and  makes  them 
wait  upon  her,  in  a manner  that  she  knows  she  could 
not  exact  of  others,  and  in  various  ways  she  shows  her 
Saxon  blood. 

“ She  is  fond  of  having  other  children  noticed  and 
caressed  by  the  teachers,  and  those  whom  she  respects  ; 
but  this  must  not  be  carried  too  far,  or  she  becomes 
jealous.  She  wants  to  have  her  share,  which,  if  not  the 
lion’s,  is  the  greater  part ; and  if  she  does  not  get  it, 
she  says,  4 My  mother  will  love  me.’ 

“Her  tendency  to  imitation  is  so  strong  that  it  leads 
her  to  actions  which  must  be  entirely  incomprehensible 
to  her,  and  which  can  give  her  no  other  pleasure  than 


44 


LAURA  BRIDGE  AN. 


the  gratification  of  an  internal  faculty.  She  has  been 
known  to  sit  for  a half  an  hour,  holding  a book  before 
her  sightless  eyes,  and  moving  her  lips,  as  she  has  ob- 
served 4 seeing  people  ’ do  when  reading. 

44  She  one  day  pretended  that  her  doll  was  sick,  and 
went  through  all  the  motions  of  tending  it  and  giving 
it  medicine  ; she  then  carefully  put  it  to  bed,  and  placed 
a bottle  of  hot  water  to  its  feet,  laughing  all  the  time 
most  heartily.  When  I came  home  she  insisted  upon 
my  going  to  see  it,  and  feel  its  pulse  ; and  when  I told 
her  to  put  a blister  to  its  back,  she  seemed  to  enjoy  it 
amazingly,  and  almost  screamed  with  delight. 

44  Her  social  feelings  and  her  affections  are  very 
strong;  and  when  she  is  sitting  at  work,  or  at  her 
studies,  by  the  side  of  one  of  her  little  friends,  she  will 
break  off  from  her  task,  every  few  moments,  to  hug  and 
kiss  her  with  an  earnestness  and  warmth  that  is  touching 
to  behold. 

44  When  left  alone,  she  occupies  and  apparently 
amuses  herself,  and  seems  quite  contented  ; and  so  strong 
seems  to  be  the  natural  tendency  of  thought  to  put  on 
the  garb  of  language  that  she  often  soliloquizes  in  the 
finger  language , slow  and  tedious  as  it  is.  But  it  is  only 
when  alone  that  she  is  quiet ; for  if  she  becomes  sensible 
of  the  presence  of  any  one  near  her,  she  is  restless 
until  she  can  sit  close  beside  them,  hold  their  hand,  and 
converse  with  them  by  signs. 

44  She  does  not  cry  from  vexation  and  disappointment, 
like  other  children,  but  only  from  grief.  If  she  receives 
a blow  by  accident,  or  hurts  herself,  she  laughs  and 
jumps  about,  as  if  trying  to  drown  the  pain  by  muscular 
action.  If  the  pain  is  severe,  she  does  not  go  to  her 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


45 


teachers  or  companions  for  sympathy,  but  on  the  con- 
trary, tries  to  get  away  by  herself,  and  then  seems  to 
give  vent  to  a feeling  of  spite  by  throwing  herself  about 
violentlj7,  and  roughly  handling  whatever  she  gets 
hold  of. 

4 4 Twice  only  have  tears  been  drawn  from  her  by  the 
severity  of  pain  ; and  then  she  ran  away,  as  if  ashamed 
of  crying  for  an  accidental  injury.  But  the  fountain  of 
her  tears  is  by  no  means  dried  up,  as  is  seen  when  her 
companions  are  in  pain  or  her  teacher  is  grieved. 

44  In  her  intellectual  character,  it  is  pleasing  to 
observe  an  insatiable  thirst  for  knowledge  and  a quick 
perception  of  the  relation  of  things. 

4 4 In  her  moral  character  it  is  beautiful  to  behold  her 
continual  gladness,  her  keen  enjoyment  of  existence, 
her  expansive  love,  her  unhesitating  confidence,  her 
sympathy  with  suffering,  her  conscientiousness,  truth- 
fulness, and  hopefulness.” 

We  return  to  the  journal  of  Miss  Drew. 

44  Jan.  13,1841.  While  Laura  was  playing  with 
Lydia  and  Sophia,  I told  her  to  go  to  her  room  and 
brush  her  hair  4 very  quick/  and  come  to  me.  She 
refused  at  first.  I insisted,  and  she  went  up  stairs  in  a 
pet.  In  a little  while  she  came  into  the  school-room 
with  Sarah,  and  looked  very  anxious.  Sarah  said  she 
had  told  the  little  girls  in  the  parlor  that  she  could  not 
go  to  school  because  Miss  Drew  was  gone  to  Boston, 
and  she  came  down  with  her  to  inquire  if  I were  gone. 
When  Laura  took  my  hand  she  looked  very  pale,  then 
red.  I asked  her  what  she  did.  She  said,  4 1 did  tell 
Louisa  you  were  gone  to  Boston.’  4 Why  did  you  tell 


46 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her  so?*  4 Because  I was  very  wrong  and  did  say  lie.* 
She  then  attempted  to  justify  herself,  and  asked,  4 Why 
did  you  tell  me  to  go  from  Sophia?’  I told  her  I 
wished  her  to  braid  her  hair.  4 1 did  not  want  to  go.’ 
Here  the  Doctor  came  in  and  she  colored  immediately. 
He  asked  her  what  she  had  done.  She  said,  4 1 did 
tell  lie.’  After  he  had  left  her  I talked  with  her  some 
time  and  she  seemed  much  grieved,  and  said,  4 1 am 
sorry.  I will  be  good  and  will  not  tell  lie  any  more,’ 

44  Jan.  25.  Laura  struck  one  of  the  little  girls 
against  whom  she  has  always  an  aversion,  and  after 
repentance  and  forgiveness,  she  said,  4 1 will  go  home 
and  come  no  more.’  I asked  why.  4 Because  I cannot 
be  good  in  Boston.’  I said,  4 Your  mother  will  be  sorry 
if  you  are  naughty.’  4 My  mother  will  love  me.’  ‘Yes, 
but  she  will  be  sorry.’  I asked  her  if  she  was  sorry  she 
came  to  Boston.  4 No,  because  I can  (could)  not  talk 
with  fingers  when  I came  with  my  father  and  mother.’ 
4 If  you  go  home  and  come  no  more,  you  can  talk  with 
no  one  with  fingers.’  4 My  mother  will  talk  little  slow.9 

44P.  M.  I endeavored  to  overcome  Laura’s  prejudices 
against  Olive,  and  tried  to  make  her  understand  that 
Olive  was  as  good  as  she  was.  I said  to  her,  4 You  must 
love  Olive,  and  walk  with  her,  and  teach  her  to  talk 
with  fingers.’  She  burst  into  a loud  laugh,  and  said, 

4 Olive  cannot  learn  to  talk  with  fingers  ; her  fingers 
are  very  stiff.  She  cannot  make  good  letters.’  And 
then  she  made  a letter  with  her  own  fingers  in  a very 
awkward  manner  to  show  me  what  might  be  expected 
from  her. 

“Feb.  6.  The  crowd  has  become  so  great  at  the 
monthly  exhibitions,  and  presses  so  closely  about 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


47 


Laura,  that  we  are  obliged  to  surround  her  desk  by 
settees,  thus  making  a little  enclosure  and  protecting 
her.  Our  first  trial  of  the  arrangement  was  to-day,  and 
Laura  was  (Juite  displeased  with  it.  She  asked,  ‘ Are 
ladies  afraid  of  me?’  thinking  that  it  was  made  for  the 
people  rather  than  for  her  own  good.” 


48 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Ok  Feb.  16,  1841,  a deaf,  dumb,  and  blind 
girl  named  Lucy  Reed  was  brought  to  the  Insti- 
tution from  Derby,  Vt.  She  was  at  once  an 
object  of  great  interest  to  Laura,  who  was  very 
anxious  that  she  should  be  taught  to  talk  with  her. 
She  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  had  never  been 
controlled,  and  for  a long  time  violently  resisted 
all  efforts  to  approach  her,  but  she  seemed  to 
understand  that  Laura  was  like  herself,  and  was 
attracted  to  her.  Under  date  of  April  14,  Miss 
Drew  records  her  first  success  after  two  months 
of  daily  effort. 

44  I tried  to  teach  Lucy  to  spell  the  word  ‘ fig’  with  her 
fingers,  and  succeeded  in  doing  so  after  much  trouble  ; 
she  would  not  do  it,  however,  a second  time,  although 
she  seemed  very  desirous  of  having  the  fig.” 

A week  later  she  relates  the  following  incident. 

“ I took  a fork  and  gave  her  the  letters , f-o-r-k.  She 
was  very  indifferent,  and  manifested  unwillingness  to 
do  what  I wished  her  to,  but  she  made  the  letters  once. 
Presently  Laura  came  in  with  some  figs.  I told  her 
she  must  give  Lucy  one.  She  said,  4 Lucy  must  spell 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


49 


fig  before  I give  it  to  her.’  She  went  to  ber  and 
showed  her  the  fig,  and  then  spelled  it  very  slowly  on 
her  own  hand,  then  made  signs  to  her  make  the  letters 
herself.  This  Lucy  would  not  do  at  first,  but  Laura 
persevered,  and  by  signs  made  her  understand  that  she 
might  have  the  fig  if  she  would  spell  it,  and  made  the 
letters  again  on  her  own  hand,  and  again  made  signs  to 
her  to  make  them  herself.  At  last  Lucy  found  that  Laura 
was  in  earnest,  and  she  spelled  the  word  f-i-g.  Laura 
then  patted  her  on  head  and  cheek,  and  seemed  to  be 
perfectly  delighted  that  she  had  accomplished  so  much.” 

After  this  we  often  taught  Lucy  at  the  same 
time  with  Laura,  when  giving  the  latter  a lesson 
which  did  not  require  undivided  attention.  This 
was  a trial  of  her  patience,  and  it  was  necessary 
to  remind  her  how  much  she  ought  to  pity  Lucy, 
in  order  to  reconcile  her  to  the  arrangement.*  It 
was  merely  the  development  of  the  same  feeling 
we  so  often  perceive  in  the  family,  when  the  little 
child  finds  itself  supplanted  by  the  new-born  baby. 
Lucy  remained  with  us  only  a few  months,  and 
the  occasional  references  in  the  notes  which  follow 
will  show  Laura’s  interest  in  her. 

At  this  point  in  Laura’s  history,  June,  1841, 
my  own  notes  commence.  I had  entered  the  Insti- 
tution a year  previous,  as  special  teacher  for  Joseph 
Smith,  a young  blind  man  who  was  preparing  for 
Harvard  College. 

Laura  always  made  the  acquaintance  of  every 
member  of  the  ’ family,  and  soon  discovered  me, 

4 


50 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


and  taught  me  to  use  the  manual  alphabet.  In 
August,  Dr.  Howe  requested  me  to  devote  an 
hour  daily  to  conversation  with  her.  My  remem- 
brance of  those  early  lessons  is  very  limited,  and 
no  notes  of  them  have  been  preserved.  The  diffi- 
culties encountered  in  teaching  her  comparison 
are,  however,  indelibly  impressed  upon  my  mind. 
At  the  close  of  the  third  week’s  work  oij  this  sub- 
ject alone,  I felt  that  I had  exhausted  all  my  own 
resources,  and  went  to  Dr.  Howe  for  assistance. 
He  dismissed  me  with  the  suggestion  that  I perse- 
vere, and  in  a day  or  two  after,  we  triumphed. 
Perhaps  this  may  be  accounted  for,  in  part,  by  my 
inexperience,  as  I was  only  eighteen,  and  just  out 
of  school,  but  the  subsequent  study  of  the  devel- 
opment of  other  children  convinces  me  that  most 
of  them  meet  the  same  difficulties,  and  that  they 
are  only  overcome  by  much  practice. 

After  a child  has  acquired  a good  use  of  lan- 
guage, the  question,  "Which  do  you  like  better, 
an  apple  or  an  orange  ? ” will  be  answered  by  nam- 
ing the  object  which  happens  to  be  mentioned 
last;  reverse  the  order  of  the  question,  and  the 
answer  will  be  reversed. 

When  in  the  kitchen  one  day,  Laura  put  her  hand 
upon  a turkey  and  asked  what  it  was.  She  was 
told  it  was  a dead  bird.  Some  time  afterward  she 
asked  of  what  the  meat  she  was  eating  was  made, 
and  was  told  it  was  cow.  This  was  a new  re  vela- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


51 


tion  to  her,  and  she  refused  to  eat  any  meat  for  a 
number  of  weeks.  We  regretted  it  and  said  all 
we  could  to  persuade  her,  for  she  was  not  strong, 
and  it  was  thought  a very  necessary  article  of  diet 
for  her.  Whether  she  perceived  she  was  not  as 
well  in  consequence  we  do  not  know,  but  she  at 
length  returned  to  it  of  her  own  accord,  and  we 
thought  it  unwise  to  make  further  conversation 
about  it. 

My  journal  entries  from  this  time  to  May,  1845, 
were  made  daily,  and  begin  as  follows  : — 

June  <9,  1841.  Laura  is  not  quite  satisfied  with  her 
arithmetic  lesson  because  I was  teaching  Lucy  Eeed 
at  the  same  time.  She  finds  much  difficulty  in  doing 
her  examples  in  subtraction ; but  was  made  happy  at 
last,  because  she  detected  me  in  a mistake. 

June  9.  Allowed  her  to  converse  instead  of  the 
arithmetic  lesson,  which  always  pleases  her.  Asked 
her  questions  that  would  lead  to  answers  introducing 
the  past  tenses  of  verbs,  and  found  them  very  correct. 
Several  times  she  recalled  a wrong  word,  correcting  it 
herself  before  I alluded  to  it.  When  talking  about 
bathing,  she  said,  “ Did  you  walk  very  weak  in  water? 
Water  is  very  strong.  Who  made  water?” 

Referred  her  to  Dr.  Howe  for  a reply.  In 
explanation  of  this,  and  in  justice  to  myself,  it  is 
necessary  for  me  to  state  that  when  Dr.  Howe 
requested  me  to  teach  Laura,  he  expressed  the 
wish  that  I should  not  converse  with  her  on  any- 


52 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thing  which  should  lead  to  religious  subjects,  but 
that  I would  refer  her  to  him  for  answers  to  all 
questions  tending  in  that  direction,  as  he  reserved 
to  himself  that  part  of  her  education. 

In  Appendix  A to  the  Ninth  Annual  Report  to 
the  Trustees,  which  was  written  six  months  pre- 
vious to  this  date,  Dr.  Howe  gives  his  views  on 
the  subject  of  her  religious  teaching  : — 

“ No  religious  feeling,  properly  so  called,  has  de- 
veloped itself ; nor  is  it  yet  time,  perhaps,  to  look  for 
it ; but  she  has  shown  a disposition  to  respect  those  who 
have  power  and  knowledge,  and  to  love  those  who  have 
goodness  ; and  when  her  perceptive  faculties  shall  have 
taken  cognizance  of  the  operations  of  nature,  and  she 
shall  be  accustomed  to  trace  effects  to  their  causes,  then 
may  her  veneration  be  turned  to  Him  who  is  almighty, 
her  respect  to  him  who  is  omniscient,  and  her  love  to 
him  who  is  all  goodness  and  love  ! 

“ Until  then,  I shall  not  deem  it  wise,  by  premature 
effort,  to  incur  the  risk  of  giving  her  ideas  of  God 
which  would  be  alike  unworthy  of  his  character  and 
fatal  to  her  peace. 

“I  should  fear  that  she  might  personify  Him  in  a way 
too  common  with  children,  who  clothe  him  with  un- 
worthy, and  sometimes  grotesque,  attributes,  which 
their  subsequently  developed  reason  condemns,  but 
strives  in  vain  to  correct. 

“ I am  almost  invariably  questioned  by  intelligent 
visitors  of  the  Institution  about  my  opinion  of  her 
moral  nature,  and  by  what  theory  I can  account  for 
such  and  such  phenomena ; and  as  many  pious  people 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


53 


have  questioned  me  respecting  her  religious  nature,  1 
will  here  state  my  views. 

u There  seem  to  have  been  in  this  child  no  innate 
ideas  or  innate  moral  principles ; that  is,  in  the  sense 
in  which  Locke,  Condillac,  and  others  consider  those 
terms.  But  there  are  innate  intellectual  dispositions ; 
and  moreover,  innate  moral  dispositions , not  derived, 
as  many  metaphysicians  suppose,  from  the  exercise  of 
intellectual  faculties,  but  as  independent  in  their  exist- 
ence as  the  intellectual  dispositions  themselves. 

“ I shall  be  easily  understood  when  I speak  of  innate 
dispositions , in  contradistinction  to  innate  ideas,  by 
those  who  are  at  all  conversant  with  metaphysics  ; but 
as  this  case  excites  peculiar  interest,  even  among  chil- 
dren, I may  be  excused  for  explaining. 

u¥e  have  no  innate  ideas  of  color,  of  distance,  etc. ; 
were  we  blind,  we  never  could  conceive  the  idea  of 
color,  nor  understand  how  light  and  shade  could  give 
knowledge  of  distance ; but  we  might  have  the  innate 
disposition,  or  internal  adaptation,  which  enables  us  to 
perceive  color,  and  to  judge  of  distance  ; and  were  the 
organ  of  sight  suddenly  to  be  restored  to  healthy  action, 
we  should  gradually  understand  the  natural  language, 
so  to  call  it,  of  light ; and  soon  be  able  to  judge 
of  distance,  by  reason  of  our  innate  disposition  or 
capacity. 

“ So  much  for  an  intellectual  perception.  As  an 
example  of  a moral  perception,  it  may  be  supposed,  for 
instance,  that  we  have  no  innate  idea  of  God,  but  that 
we  have  an  innate  disposition,  or  adaptation,  not  only 
to  recognize,  but  to  adore  him ; and  when  the  idea  of 
a God  is  presented,  we  embrace  it,  because  we  have 
that  internal  adaptation  which  enables  us  to  do  so. 


54 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


“ If  the  idea  of  a God  were  innate,  it  would  be  uni 
versal  and  identical,  and  not  the  consequential  effect  of 
the  exercise  of  causality ; it  would  be  impossible  to 
present  him  under  different  aspects.  He  would  not  be 
regarded  as  Jupiter,  Jehovah,  Brahma ; we  could  not 
make  different  people  clothe  him  with  different  attri- 
butes, any  more  than  we  could  make  them  consider  two 
and  two  to  make  three,  or  five,  or  anything  but  four. 

“ But  on  the  other  hand,  if  we  had  no  innate  dispo- 
sition to  receive  the  idea  of  a God,  then  could  we  never 
have  conceived  one,  any  more  than  we  can  conceive  of 
time  without  a beginning  ; then  would  the  most  incon- 
trovertible evidence  to  man  of  God’s  existence  have 
been  wanting,  viz.,  the  internal  evidence  of  his  own 
nature. 

“ Now,  it  does  appear  to  me  very  evident,  from  the 
phenomena  manifested  in  Laura’s  case,  that  she  has 
innate  moral  dispositions  and  tendencies,  which,  though 
developed  subsequently  (in  the  order  of  time)  to  her 
intellectual  faculties,  are  not  dependent  upon  them,  nor 
are  they  manifested  with  a force  proportionate  to  that 
of  her  intellect. 

“ According  to  Locke’s  theory,  the  moral  qualites 
and  faculties  of  this  child  should  be  limited  in  propor- 
tion to  the  limitation  of  her  senses,  for  he  derives  moral 
principles  from  intellectual  dispositions,  which  alone  he 
-considers  to  be  innate.  He  thinks  moral  principles 
must  be  proved , and  can  only  be  so  by  an  exercised 
intellect. 

“Now,  the  sensations  of  Laura  are  very  limited; 
acute  as  is  her  touch,  and  constant  as  is  her  exercise  of 
it,  how  vastly  does  she  fall  behind  others  of  her  age  in 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


55 


the  amount  of  sensations  which  she  experiences,  how 
limited  is  the  range  of  her  thought,  how  infantile  is 
she  in  the  exercise  of  her  intellect ! But  her  moral 
qualities,  her  moral  sense,  are  remarkably  acute ; few 
children  are  so  affectionate,  or  so  scrupulously  con- 
scientious, few  are  so  sensible  of  their  own  rights  or 
regardful  of  the  rights  of  others. 

u Can  any  one  suppose,  then,  that  without  innate 
moral  dispositions,  such  effects  could  have  been  pro- 
duced solely  by  moral  lessons  ? for  even  if  they  could 
have  been  given  to  her,  would  they  not  have  been  seed 
sown  upon  barren  ground  ? Her  moral  sense  and  her 
conscientiousness  seem  not  at  all  dependent  upon  any 
intellectual  perception  ; they  are  not  perceived,  indeed, 
or  understood,  — they  are  felt,  and  she  may  feel  them 
even  more  strongly  than  most  adults. 

4 4 These  observations  will  furnish  an  answer  to  another 
question,  which  is  frequently  put  concerning  Laura : 
can  she  be  taught  the  existence  of  God,  her  dependence 
upon,  and  her  obligations  to  him  ? 

44  The  answer  may  be  inferred  from  what  has  gone 
before,  — that,  if  there  exists  in  her  mind  (and  who  can 
doubt  that  it  does  ?)  the  innate  capacity  for  the  percep- 
tion of  this  great  truth,  it  can  probably  be  developed, 
and  become  an  object  of  intellectual  perception  and 
firm  belief. 

“I  trust,  too,  that  she  can  be  made  to  conceive  of 
future  existence,  and  to  lean  upon  the  hope  of  it,  as  an 
anchor  to  her  soul  in  those  hours  when  sickness  and 
approaching  death  shall  arouse  to  fearful  activity  the 
instinctive  love  of  life  which  is  possessed  by  her  in 
common  with  all. 


56 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


“But  to  effect  this,  to  furnish  her  with  a guide 
through  life  and  a support  in  death,  much  is  to  he  done, 
and  much  is  to  be  avoided. 

“ None  but  those  who  have  seen  her  engaged  in  the 
task,  and  have  witnessed  the  difficulty  of  teaching  her 
the  meaning  of  such  words  as  remember , hope,  forget , 
expect , will  conceive  the  difficulties  in  her  way ; but 
they,  too,  have  seen  her  unconquerable  resolution,  and 
her  unquenchable  thirst  for  knowledge ; and  they  will 
not  condemn  as  visionary  such  pleasing  anticipations.” 

We  continue  the  extracts  from  the  journal : — 

June  15.  Laura  succeeded  in  doing  several  exam- 
ples in  subtraction  very  well.  For  the  last  one  under 
this  rule  gave  her  one  with  fifteen  figures  in  the  minu- 
end. She  said,  “ Sum  is  very  long,  like  Halifax.” 

She  thought  her  journey  to  that  place  took  a long 
time,  hence  the  comparison.  Some  time  ago  she  read 
in  “ The  Child’s  Book  ’ (printed  in  raised  letters  for  the 
blind)  about  the  senses,  and  in  conversation  afterward, 
I told  her  she  had  three.  She  was  much  displeased 
because  she  had  not  as  many  as  one  of  the  blind  girls 
whom  she  considers,  not  without  reason,  as  decidedly 
her  inferior.*  After  sitting  still  a moment  this  morn- 
ing, apparently  thinking  earnestly,  she  said,  “ I have 
four.”  “Four  what?”  “Four  senses;  think,  and 


* When  this  child  entered  school  Laura  took  her  under  her  special 
care,  showed  her  about  the  house  and  assisted  her  in  various  ways, 
but  in  trying  to  teach  her  the  huger  alphabet  she  discovered  her 
mental  incapacity,  and  afterwards  manifested  a decided  aversion  to 
her.  If  anything  were  broken  or  lost,  she  always  attributed  it  to 
Olive. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


57 


nose,  and  mouth,  and  fingers.  I have  four  senses.” 
And  she  seemed  much  delighted  at  the  discovery. 

June  16.  Laura  began  to  learn  the  multiplication- 
table.  Found  she  knew  the  two  table  perfectly,  though 
after  reciting  it  she  said,  “ My  think  is  very  tired.” 

She  corrected  me  for  not  saying  “ please”  in  every 
sentence.  She  had  some  cake  given  her,  and  said  she 
must  give  Lucy  some;  but  first  wished  me  to  teach  her 
to  spell  it  with  the  types.  Tokl  Laura  it  was  ‘ ‘ pound  ” 
cake,  and  laughing  she  pounded  upon  her  desk.  This 
is  the  only  meaning  she  has  yet  been  taught  of  that 
word. 

June  18.  As  an  exercise  upon  the  two  and  three 
tables,  gave  her  to-day  an  example  on  the  board.  This 
pleased  her  much,  and  she  worked  with  great  spirit. 
While  walking  on  the  piazza,  she  said,  “Why  do  sun 
not  come?”  Because  clouds  are  over  it.  “ Who  shut 
clouds  ? ” 

June  19.  One  of  the  gentlemen  who  visited  the 
school  to-day  saw  Laura  when  she  first  came  to  the 
Institution,  and  desired  to  know  if  she  would  recognize 
him  by  touching  again  his  finger-nail,  which  was  of  a 
peculiar  shape.  She  touched  his  hand,  perceived  the 
nail,  and  turning  to  one  of  the  blind  girls  who  stood 
near,  said,  “ I remember  to  see  man  when  it  was  very 
cold.  I could  not  talk  with  fingers.  I did  not  know 
(then)  man  had  got  any  name.” 

Heard  a sound  from  both  Lucy  and  Laura  this  morn- 
ing that  led  me  to  think  all  was  not  right.  Found  that 
Laura  had  accidentally  broken  the  string  of  Lucy’s  fan 
while  playing  with  her,  and  that  Lucy  was  taking  re- 
venge by  pinching  and  striking,  while  Laura,  not  under- 


58 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


standing  about  it,  still  kept  her  arm  round  Lucy.  This 
made  matters  worse ; and  she  had  worked  herself  into 
quite  a passion  before  I got  to  her.  Separated  them, 
and  Luc}t  grew  calm,  but  Laura  was  much  troubled. 

On  coming  for  her  lesson  Monday  morning,  she  said, 
“I  want  to  talk  much  with  you.”  Her  first  topic 
was  the  trouble  with  Lucy.  She  had  been  thinking 
about  it,  and  could  not  understand  it.  44  Why  did  Lucy 
pinch  and  scratch  me  ? Was  she  very  wrong  ? ” Tried 
to  excuse  it,  saying  she  did  not  know  better.  44  Did  she 
know  I was  ver}r  sorry  to  break  her  fan?  Why  will 
Lucy  pinch  and  strike  ? ” Told  her  I hoped  she  would 
soon  learn  it  was  wrong,  and  we  must  be  patient  with 
her.  This  being  settled  to  her  satisfaction,  she  said, 
4 4 TVhy  do  not  heart  stop  ? ” Being  puzzled  for  a reply 
that  should  not  involve  me  in  questions  I was  not  allowed 
to  answer,  I said,  44  Because  it  cannot  stop.”  Told  her 
she  always  breathed.  She  held  her  breath  for  a while, 
and  said,  44 1 do  not  breathe  now.”  But  you  will  breathe 
soon,  and  cannot  stop  long,  or  it  will  hurt  you.  44  And 
die,”  she  added.  44  Is  not  heart  very  tired?” 

She  seems  to  have  a theory  of  her  own  regarding 
the  seat  of  sensation.  During  a lesson  one  day  she 
stopped,  and  holding  her  forehead,  said,  44 1 think  very 
hard.  Was  I baby,  did  I think?”  (meaning,  when  I 
was  a baby) . Another  day  she  said,  4 4 Doctor  will  come 
in  fourteen  days,  I think  in  my  head.”  Asked  her  if 
she  did  not  think  in  her  side  and  heart.  44  No  ; I cannot 
think  in  heart ; I think  in  head.”  Why?  44 1 cannot 
know  ; all  little  girls  cannot  know  about  heart.”  When 
disappointed  or  troubled,  she  often  says,  44  My  heart 
aches.”  One  day  she  asked,  44  When  heart  aches,  does 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


59 


blood  run  ?”  We  had  told  her  about  the  circulation  of 
the  blood.  “ Does  blood  run  in  my  eyes  ? I cannot  feel 
eyes  blood  run.  Why  cannot  I stop  to  think?  I can- 
not help  to  think  all  days.  Do  you  stop  to  think? 
(meaning,  cease  thinking).  Does  Harrison  stop  to 
think,  now  he  is  dead  ? ” President  Harrison  had  lately 
died,  and  the  blind  girls  had  talked  much  about  it,  and 
by  them  Laura  had  been  told  of  it. 

June  24.  Within  the  past  week  Laura  has  begun  to 
ask  the  color  of  everything.  We  cannot  find  where  she 
got  the  first  idea  of  it.  This  morning  she  would  have 
liked  to  devote  her  whole  lesson  to  it,  she  was  so  much 
interested.  She  has  attached  an  idea  of  inferiority  to 
red,  and  was  displeased  when  told  a dress,  which  she 
wore  in  the  afternoon,  had  red  in  it,  and  said,  “ I will 
wear  it  in  the  morning.” 

June  25.  Continued  the  subject  of  color,  and  her 
first  question  was,  “ What  did  man  make  red  for?” 
Told  her  because  he  thought  red  pretty,  and  that 
reconciled  her  to  it.  I tried  unsuccessfully  to  find, 
by  questioning,  the  origin  of  her  dislike,  but  can  only 
venture  a surmise  that  the  article  she  had  in  her  hand 
when  first  told  of  the  color  red,  may  have  been  harsh 
and  disagreeable  to  her  touch. 

This  leads  me  to  speak  of  my  observations  with 
regard  to  the  power  of  the  blind  to  distinguish 
color.  Fabulous  stories  have  been  told,  but  cer- 
tainly among  the  pupils  at  our  Institution,  there 
were  none  of  whom  we  could  make  similar  state- 
ments. It  is  true  of  many  totally  blind  that,  if  a 
number  of  balls  of  worsted  of  various  colors  are 


60 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN’. 


given  them,  and  they  are  obliged  to  notice  them 
carefully,  that  they  may  use  them  in  their  proper 
places  in  work,  they  will  rarely  make  a mistake. 
So  we  may  give  them  pieces  of  silk,  with  the 
same  result,  but  this  does  not  prove,  that  having 
been  told  the  colors  in  one  material  or  fabric,  they 
will  recognize  them  in  any  other. 

We  have  no  evidence  that  there  is  any  inherent 
property  in  the  color  red,  or  blue,  or  yellow, 
which  will  enable  the  most  sensitive  touch  to 
detect  each  in  all  materials  offered. 

It  has  often  been  stated  by  letter-writers  that 
"Laura  Bridgman  can  tell  the  color  of  everything 
by  feeling.”  This  we  know  is  a mistake,  and  as 
we  suppose  her  sense  of  feeling  to  be  more  acute 
than  that  of  any  other  person,  we  infer  that  it 
cannot  be  literally  true  in  any  case. 

June  26.  Sent  Laura  to  bring  Lucy  down  to  the 
school-room.  She  came,  looking  quite  sad,  and  said, 
“ Lucy  talked  with  her  mouth.”  “ What  did  she  say?” 
“ I cannot  know.  Lucy  did  talk.”  She  was  comforted 
by  my  assuring  her  she  only  made  noises,  it  was  not 
talking.  She  must  have  had  her  hand  near  Lucy’s 
mouth,  and  perceived  some  motion  similar  to  talking. 

June  28.  In  the  midst  of  an  arithmetic  lesson  she 
stopped  to  ask  the  name  and  color  of  her  eyelashes 
and  brows . When  talking  of  hair,  she  asked  the  color 
of  mine,  and  said,  “Mine  will  be  dark  brown  too  when 
I am  tall.”  She  walked  to  the  window,  where  the  lower 
shutter  was  closed,  and  said,  “ I will  talk  about  this,” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


61 


and  asked  the  name  and  color  of  the  hasp  and  hinge, 
then  swinging  it  backward  and  forward  said,  “ It  is  like 
a clock  ” (pendulum) . 

June  29.  She  brought  her  doll  into  school,  and  said, 
14  It  is  not  pretty  to  bring  doll  into  all  schools,”  and 
then  extended  its  hand  towards  me,  and  said,  “See  doll 
talk,”  and  moved  its  fingers  to  spell  “ Swift.”  She  was 
delighted  that  I could  understand  it,  and  said,  “ Doll 
can  talk  with  fingers  ; I taught  doll  to  talk  with  fingers.” 
She  has  lately  made  a strange  noise  which  she  calls 
“ calling,”  and  if  I leave  her  a moment  she  makes  it, 
and  says,  “ I wanted  you  to  come  and  I called  you.” 

This  is  quite  a new  idea,  as  all  the  noises  she 
has  previously  made  were  evidently  not  intended  to 
attract  attention.  Of  these  Dr.  Howe  speaks  in 
one  of  his  reports  as  follows  : — 

44  It  may  be  well  to  explain  what  was  said  in  a 
former  report  about  Laura  making  a peculiar  sound 
whenever  she  meets  any  person,  which  she  calls  that 
person’s  noise , and  about  which  many  inquiries  have 
been  made,  especially  as  an  important  physiological 
inference  may  be  drawn  from  it.  When  she  meets  me, 
one  of  the  pupiL,  or  any  intimate  friend,  she  instantly 
piakes  a noise  with  the  vocal  organs  ; for  one  a chuckle, 
for  another  a cluck,  for  a third  a nasal  sound,  for  a fourth 
a guttural,  etc.  These  are  to  her  evidently  signs,  or 
names  affixed  to  each  person.  These  are  known  by 
those  very  intimate  with  her , when  they  speak  to  her 
of  such  and  such  an  one,  she  makes  her  4 noise  ” ; and 
these  noises  or  names  have  become  so  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  the  persons  that  sometimes,  when  she  is 


62 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


sitting  by  herself,  and  the  thought  of  a friend  comes  up 
in  her  mind,  she  utters  his  c noise/  as  she  calls  it,  that 
is,  what  is  to  her  his  name.  Now,  as  she  cannot  hear  a 
sound,  as  she  never  attempts,  like  deaf  and  dumb  per- 
sons, to  attract  the  attention  of  others  by  making  a 
noise,  it  follows  that,  impelled  by  the  natural  tendency 
of  the  human  mind  to  attach  signs  to  every  thought,  she 
selects  the  natural  vehicle  for  the  expression  of  it,  and 
exercises  the  vocal  organs,  but  without  any  definite 
view  of  producing  an  effect.  This  would  seem  to  prove, 
if  indeed  any  proof  be  wanting,  that  men  did  not  select 
vocal  sounds  for  a colloquial  medium,  from  among  other 
possible  media,  but  that  it  is  the  natural  one.” 

July  1.  Laura  did  not  succeed  as  well  as  usual  in 
her  arithmetic,  and  was  a little  fretful  and  impatient. 
When  her  examples  were  corrected,  she  was  quite  dis- 
pleased, and  said,  “ Ladies  do  not  say  wrong.  I think 
j^ou  are  very  wrong  to  say  wrong  to  me.  Think  cannot 
do  good,  because  I am  very  deaf.  Think  is  very  long,” 
meaning  slow  in  working. 

July  2.  A complaint  was  entered  against  Laura  that 
she  pinched  Lucy  and  made  her  cry.  I talked  with  her 
about  it,  and  said  to  her,  “ Lurena  told  doctor  you 
pinched  Lucy’s  nose  and  made  her  cry.”  Before  I had 
finished  the  sentence  she  smiled,  and  seemed,  by  the 
expression  of  her  face,  to  think  that  it  was  very  ridicu- 
lous to  pinch  her  nose  ; but  when  she  was  told  that  Lucy 
cried,  she  changed  countenance,  and  was  immediately 
sad.  She  said,  “ When  did  I pinch  Lucy’s  nose  ? ” I 
replied,  “Lurena  said  yesterday.”  “After  how  many 
schools?”  I told  her  I did  not  know.  She  thought  a 
moment,  and  then  said  eagerly,  “ I pinched  Lucy’s  nose 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


63 


after  one  * school,  to  play.  I did  not  mean  to  make  her 
cry,  because  I played.  Did  Lucy  know  I was  wrong?  ” 

I told  her  Lucy  did  not  know  when  she  played,  and  she 
must  play  softly.  I asked  her  if  she  loved  Lucy ; she 
replied,  “ Yes,  but  Lucy  does  not  hug  me.”  “Why  does 
she  not?”  “Because  she  is  very  deaf  and  blind  and 
does  not  know  how  to  love  me  ; she  is  very  weak  to  hug.” 

July  3.  Gave  Lucy  the  word  “ cake  ” and  called  Laura 
to  spell  it  to  her ; the  interest  seemed  to  be  all  on 
Laura’s  side,  as  she  cares  much  more  than  Lucy  about 
the  lessons.  She  asked  with  great  earnestness,  “ Does 
Lucy  know  what  I say?”  and  added,  “ I want  her  to 
learn  to  talk  very,  very  ” (and  to  make  it  emphatic,  she 
repeated  it  ten  times)  “ much.” 

July  8.  Laura  went  to  ride,  and  as  usual  asked  the 
color  and  name  of  the  horse.  Told  her  “Post-boy.” 
She  said,  “What  boy?  Has  he  four  legs?”  She  was 
puzzled  by  the  name,  and  could  not  decide  whether  it 
was  man  or  horse. 

July  9.  Laura  was  ready  for  her  lesson  before 
prayers,  and  when  I went  down,  led  me  to  the  table  to 
show  me  a box  and  asked  “ What?”  It  was  fastened 
with  hasps,  and  looked  as  if  it  had  not  been  opened,  but 
to  satisfy  myself  of  her  self-denial  I asked  her  if  she  had 
opened  it.  She  said  “ No  ” with  great  emphasis,  sh6w- 
ing  therebjr  her  nice  sense  of  propriety.  Allowed  her 
to  open  it,  and  she  was  surprised  when  told  it  was  for 
her  to  use.  It  contained  types  with  raised  letters  on  the 
end,  and  had  grooved  lines  in  which  they  could  be  set  up. 

The  next  morning  she  brought  the  box  with  the  - 


* fa  lie  was  accustomed  to  reckon  time  by  schools,  “ a school,” 
with  a recess  of  a quarter  of  an  hour,  occupying  an  hour.  The 
first  “ school  ” was  before  breakfast,  closing  at  seven  o’clock. 


64 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


alphabet  arranged  in  order  seven  times,  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  types  in  such  a way  that  she  knew  where  to 
find  them.  This  had  taken  her  several  hours  to  accom- 
plish, but  much  gratified  her  strong  love  of  order. 

July  13.  This  was  a sad  day  to  us  all.  Lucy’s 
parents  had  sent  for  her  to  return  to  them,  and  all  the 
care  and  anxiety  she  had  been  to  her  teachers  for  the 
five  months  was  forgotten  in  the  sorrow  of  seeing  her 
leave  us.  Had  she  remained  we  had  no  doubt  of  our 
future  success  in  teaching  her,  for  the  greatest  difficul- 
ties were  overcome,  but  now  she  must  go  back  from 
dawn  into  night  again.  Laura  could  think  of  nothing 
but  Luc}t,  when  she  came  for  her  lesson,  as  she  had 
just  bidden  her  good  by.  She  was  much  troubled  that 
Lucy  did  not  return  her  embraces.  She  said,  “I  am 
very  sorry ; I cannot  work  much  because  I am  very 
sorry  that  Lucy  is  going  away.  Why  will  not  Lucy 
hug  me  ? Will  Doctor  cry  ? ” Then  she  reviewed  Lucj^’s 
history,  and  not  one  circumstance  connected  with  her 
seemed  to  have  escaped  her  mind.  She  said,  k*Doll 
will  cry ; she  is  very  sorry  Lucy  is  gone,  and  will  cry.” 

A week  after  Lucy  left,  Laura  was  told  by  Dr. 
Howe  of  a blind  deaf  and  dumb  boy  who  would 
come  to  the  school  before  long.  She  had  many 
questions  to  ask  : " Can  I talk  with  him  when  he  has 
learned  much  ? ” This  question  occurred  to  her 
mind,  I presume,  because  in  the  school  the  boys 
occupied  one  part  of  the  house  and  the  girls 
another,  and  so  she  doubted  whether  she  would 
be  allowed  to  talk  with  him.  " Will  you  kiss  the 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


65 


little  blind  and  deaf  and  dumb  boy  ? Why  not  ? ” 
*'  Because  it  is  very  wrong  to  kiss  boys  ” (with  a 
very  imperative  air) . 

July  23.  She  brought  me  her  new  board  with  a very 
good  sentence  set  up  in  types  : “ Doctor  and  Drew  and 
Swift  taught  Lucy  to  learn  to  talk  with  her  fingers,  and 
Laurena  taught  her  to  read  on  board,  good ; when 
Laura  came  with  my  mother,  doctor  and  Drew  taught 
me  on  knife  and  fork  and  spoon  and  mug  very  good.” 
She  said  of  her  own  accord,  “ Laura  is  wrong  ” and  sub- 
stituted “I”  for  it.  She  shows  much  ingenuity  in  arrang- 
ing the  spaces  between  the  words  ; she  has  not  enough 
blanks  for  long  sentences,  and  so  takes  the  smaller  let- 
ters and  turns  the  blank  end  up.  While  Miss  Drew 
was  talking  with  her  she  asked,  “ What  is  by  and  by?  ” 
and  was  told  it  meant  soon.  She  went  to  her  work,  but 
came  back  five  minutes  after,  saying,  “ To  and  to  is 
now.”  Being  asked  why  she  thought  so  she  said, 
“ Because  by  and  by  is  soon.” 

July  27.  Laura  said  this  morning,  “I  do  not  want 
to  study  to  cipher,  I want  to  talk  about  things.  What 
is  hour?  Doctor  said  after  two  hours.”  After  talking 
some  time  she  said,  “Sunday  is  two  hours  ; eight  weeks 
Sunday,  peaches  will  grow.”  Neither  remark  was  intel- 
ligible to  me.  She  attended  very  quietly  to  my  expla- 
nation for  some  time,  and  said,  “ I cannot  have  some 
one  to  say  weeks  and  hours  to  me,  because  I cannot 
know  ” (understand) . Told  her  she  could  know  hour, 
and  tried  to  explain  it  as  one  school  and  one  recess. 
Feared  she  might  think  them  synonymous  in  meaning 
Vather  than  in  time,  but  after  sitting  still  a long  time 
5 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


66 

thinking,  she  said,  “After  one  school,  after  recess,  is 
an  hour,  and  a week  is  after  Sunday.” 

When  a subject  that  is  very  difficult  occupies 
part  of  the  hour,  I turn  her  attention  to  something 
which  will  be  easier,  but  will  teach  her  some 
new  words,  so  to-day  showed  her  a ball  of  wicking, 
taught  her  the  name  and  color,  and  throwing  it 
upon  the  desk  she  noticed  its  elasticity,  and  said, 
" Ball  jumps  ” ; taught  her  the  word  " bound.” 

Aug.  2.  Exercised  Laura  in  examples  with  five  for 
a multiplier.  She  did  them  very  rapidly  and  without 
much  effort.  In  review  gave  her  one  with  two  for  a 
multiplier,  and  found  she  had  almost  entirely  forgotten 
that  table  while  learning  the  higher  numbers.  This 
surprised  me,  as  she  never  seems  to  forget  in  any  other 
study.  When  she  had  finished  her  lesson  she  found  on 
her  board  a row  of  figures  without  a multiplier,  and  play- 
fully put  down  a cipher  and  commenced  multiplying  by  it. 

Aug.  4 . Laura’s  sentence  on  her  board  this  mom 
was,  “Osborne  went  on  water,  he  was  very  tired  to 
work  & he  came  to  see  his  mother.  Cyrus  came  to  see 
Miss  Drew.  Miss  Davis  sent  berries  to  girls  to  eat 
them  for  dinner,  good.  Olive  was  very  wrong  to  tell 
lie  when  it  was  very  cold.”  She  seemed  quite  impatient 
when  I wished  her  to  correct  it,  but  was  reconciled  when 
told  that  the  reason  I wished  her  to  put  it  on  the  board 
was  that,  by  correcting  it,  I might  teach  her  to  talk  as 
other  girls  do.  The  letter  s was  exhausted  before  she 
finished  the  sentence,  and  I suggested  leaving  a blank 
for  it,  but  instead  of  doing  so,  she  put  z in  its  place. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


67 


It  was  singular  that  she  should  have  hit  on  the  letter 
which  sounded  most  nearly  like  s,  so  I asked  why  she 
did  not  take  o or  t.  “ Because  o and  t are  not  good,” 
was  all  the  reason  I could  get. 

Aug.  16.  The  sentence  this  morning  was  “I,  & J, 
& Doctor  went  in  the  boat  to  see  Betsy  Tuesday,  & all 
the  girls  went  to  ride  in  the  cars  to  See-konk  & they 
picked  many  whortle  & blueberries.  Mr.  Greene  gave 
me  some  cake  & Mrs.  Greene  gave  me  raspberries.  I, 
& Drew,  & Martha,  went  to  see  baby.”  Tried  to 
explain  to  her  that  “ I ’’should  come  after  “Doctor,” 
but  she  was  much  dissatisfied  and  said,  w Why  must  I ” 
(pointing  to  herself)  u come  last?  I rode  between  Dr.  & 
Jennette.”  Her  manner  of  writing  See-konk  with  a 
dash,  showed  the  idea  she  attached  to  the  name.  When 
we  came  to  the  last  clause  I thought  she  would  correct 
it  herself  and  put  the  “I”  last,  but  she  objected  and  said, 
“ I sat  first,  why  must  I be  last?  ” 

Aug.  19.  Taking  up  a pincushion  which  was  in  the 
form  of  a fish,  she  said,  “What  is  it”?  When  told, 
she  threw  it  down  quickly  as  if  afraid  to  handle  it,  then 
taking  it  up  again  said,  “ You  must  teach  me  about  fish. 
Why  has  it  not  legs  ? ” Described  the  fins  and  their  use, 
then  showed  her  another  pincushion  in  the  form  of  a 
fly.  She  asked  the  different  colors  of  the  silk,  and  the 
use  of  the  various  parts.  4 4 Why  do  flies  fly  with  wings  ? 
Why  do  they  not  walk  on  the  floor  ? Because  girls  would 
walk  on  them,  and  hurt  them  very  much  ? Why  do  flies 
get  in  water  ? Can  you  catch  fly  to  show  me  legs  and 
wings?  Why  does  not  the  silk  fly  move?”  I was 
about  to  answer  when  she  showed  me  one  wing  was 
partly  off,  and  said,  44  Fly  is  dead.”  Asked  her  if  she 


68 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thought  it  flew  before  it  was  off,  and  she  seemed  to  | 
think  it  did. 

Aug.  20.  Laura  asked  to  talk  about  animals,  so 
excused  her  from  the  much  less  interesting  lesson  in 
arithmetic.  Her  mind  is  full  of  the  subject  now.  4 4 Why 
do  not  flies  and  horses  go  to  bed  ? Why  do  they  eat 
fast?  Are  horses  cross  all  days?  What  does  horse  i’ 
do  ? Is  he  hurry  to  go  ? Do  horse  know  it  is  wrong  to  | 
go  slow?  Would  they  know  that  carryall  would  fall  if 
they  went  slow  and  the  ground  was  rough?  Why 
does  Abner  hold  the  horse’s  head  when  we  get  in  ? 
Why  did  horse  fret?”  (Shaking  her  head  up  and 
down.)  She  had  probably  perceived  the  jar  of  the  car- 
riage from  this  motion  of  the  horse,  and  some  one  had 
shown  her  what  the  horse  did  to  cause  it.  Just  then  a 
horse  came  into  tlie  yard ; she  felt  the  jar  and  asked, 
u Why  do  horse  walk  hard  on  barn  floor?  I will  see 
horse.”  Told  her  I would  show  her  one,  meaning  a 
model.  44  Will  horse  come  into  school?  Do  ladies  bring 
horse  into  school  ? I think  I am  very  sorry  I said  I 
would  see  horse.” 

Aug.  23.  I found  Laura  waiting  for  me  with  two 
pieces  of  paper,  one  folded  very  small,  which  she  said 
was  44  hopper,”  meaning  it  was  about  the  size  of  a grass- 
hopper ; the  other,  much  larger,  was  44  elephant.”  She 
was  not  satisfied  with  the  name  hopper,  and  changed  it 
to  44  grass-hopper,”  then  to  44  hopper-ground.”  I think 
she  had  an  idea  that  if  she  used  grass,  it  would  mean 
that  it  was  made  of  grass,  and  so  was  puzzled  what  to 
call  it.  Next  she  asked,  44 What  are  flies’  names?” 
Being  sure  she  knew  better  than  to  ask  such  a question, 

I replied, 4k  Ellen  and  Laura  and  Susan.”  She  laughed 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


69 


heartily,  and  said,  “Flies  have  no  name  but  bug. 
Why  do  not  flies  have  names  like  girls  and  boys  ? Why 
do  horses  have  iron  shoes  ? Do  they  tie  them  on  with 
strings?  Why  do  men  hold  horse’s  foot  to  put  on 
shoes?  I hear  horse  walk  when  he  kicks  off  flies, 
because  they  are  hard.”  She  often  perceives  the  jar 
made  by  the  stamping  of  the  horse  in  the  stable. 
“ Why  do  cows  not  draw?”  “ Cow’s  feet  are  cut  in  two 
parts.”  Told  her  she  might  go  out  to  the  stable  with  me 
to  see  the  cow’s  foot,  but  she  shrunk  from  it,  saying, 
“No,  she  would  run  and  kick  me.  When  horses  and 
cows  are  sick,  do  they  go  to  bed  like  girls  and  get  well? 
Do  they  go  down  stairs  ? Why  do  cows  have  horns  ? ” 
“ To  keep  bad  cows  off  when  they  trouble  them,”  was 
my  answer.  “Do  bad  cows  know  to  go  away  when 
good  cow  pushes  them  ? ” After  sitting  some  time  in 
thought,  she  said,  “ Why  do  cows  have  two  horns,  — to 
push  two  cows?”  moving  her  hands  in  two  directions. 

Extended  reports  of  conversations  are  copied 
from  journals,  that  the  reader  may  be  enabled  the 
more  fully  to  realize  how  many  things  a child  thus 
isolated  has  to  learn  in  this  way,  which  we  never 
know  how  other  children  acquire.  Dr.  Howe 
remarks,  — 

“ her  curiosity  is  insatiable,  and  by  the  cheerful  toil 
and  patient  labor  with  which  she  gleans  her  scanty  har- 
vest of  knowledge,  she  reproves  those  who,  having  eyes 
see  not,  and  having  ears  hear  not.” 

Aug.  24.  Lesson  upon  weeks  and  months.  She 
learned  to  reckon  the  number  of  weeks  in  three,  four, 
and  five  months.  Asked  her  if  she  had  done  tea 


70 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


“You  are  wrong  to  say  tea;  it  is  milk  and  water.” 
Walked  with  her  to  South  Boston  Point,  and  showed 
her  a boat  and  oars,  but  could  not  persuade  her  to  sit 
in  it,  4 4 Because,”  as  she  said,  “ I am  afraid  it  will  move.” 

When  asked  the  next  day  why  she  did  not  make  a 
sentence  on  her  board  about  the  oars,  she  replied, 
“ Thought  was  ver}r  sleepy  not  to  study  much.”  This 
is  the  first  time  she  has  made  use  of  the  noun  “ thought,” 
her  usual  expression  being  4 4 Think  is  tired.”  She  asked 
what  bit  her,  and  was  told  mosquito.  4 4 You  were  wrong 
Monday  to  say  flies  had  no  ‘name  ; it  is  mosquito  fly.” 

She  shook  hands  with  me  and  laughing  said,  44 1 have 
been  to  see  your  mother  ; I went  yesterday  after  dinner, 
and  I came  this  morning.  She  said  she  was  very  glad  to 
see  me,  and  I said,  4 How  do  you  do?  ’ ” She  enjoyed 
this  little  play  of  imagination  as  a very  good  joke. 
After  tea  she  asked,  4 4 Is  it  very  time  ? ” and  explained  it 
by  saying,  44 Is  it  late?”  evidently  thinking  her  first 
form  more  emphatic. 

Aug.  30.  She  is  becoming  more  and  more  dissatis- 
fied with  her  type-setting.  It  is  a very  slow  process  for 
her,  and  with  all  the  pains  she  can  take  she  does  not 
succeed  in  setting  up  as  good  sentences  as  she  uses  in 
talking  with  her  fingers.  The  corrections  displease  her, 
but  we  are  not  ready  yet  to  give  up  the  experiment. 
She  shows  great  ingenuity  often  in  making  excuses,  and 
so  begging  off  from  it.  This  morning  she  was  full  of 
them : 44 1 must  make  many  pitchers  ” (a  kind  of  purse 
made  in  the  shape  of  a pitcher  which  she  had  been 
taught  to  knit  of  worsted,  her  orders  for  them  being 
often  in  advance  of  the  supply)  “ for  ladies,  and  they 
will  not  be  done.”  When  this  excuse  did  not  avail  she 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


71 


said,  “ I shall  not  have  you  teach  me  after  it  is  cold 
because  I have  learned  all.”  Asked  if  she  thought  I 
knew  no  more  to  teach  her,  but  she  had  no  answer,  only 
asked,  “Why  did  doctor  have  Munger  make  types?” 
“ To  teach  jtou  to  talk  like  all  the  girls.”  “ I can  talk  good 
now.”  I could  not  blame  her  much  for  this  little  pet- 
tishness, for  I think  girls  who  could  see  would  find  their 
patience  taxed. 

Laura  has  a very  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous, 
and  while  she  is  sympathetic  when  she  sees  any 
one  is  hurt,  yet  her  expressions  of  sympathy  will 
often  be  supplemented  by  a good,  hearty  laugh. 
An  illustration  occurred  just  at  this  date.  Dr. 
Howe  met  with  an  accident.  She  said,  laughing 
heartily,  " I am  very  sad  because  doctor  hurt 
him.  I want  him  to  be  well  very  much  ; he  hurt 
his  leg,  and  walked  like  a dog.”  Then  she  laughed 
again,  and  said,  " I am  very  much  afraid  I shall 
not  see  doctor  walk  on  crutches  for  legs ; I want 
you  to  ask  him  if  he  will  walk,  and  let  me  see 
him.”  Another  day  she  had  a great  play  over  the 
letters  of  the  finger  alphabet.  The  letter  which 
amused  her  most  was  t,  which  is  made  by  putting 
the  thumb  between  the  next  two  fingers.  She 
put  her  fingers  over  her  nose,  so  it  would  project 
between  them,  and  said  " like  t.”  When  I took 
my  paper  to  make  notes  of  the  lesson  she  put  her 
hand  on  the  pencil,  and  said,  " Do  not  write  about 
nose  and  thumb  ; I do  not  want  doctor  to  know.” 
She  probably  thought  he  would  call  it  silly. 


72 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Talking  about  moths  one  day,  she  decided  very 
positively  that  moths  ate  all  old  dresses,  and  that 
was  what  made  them  wear  out. 

Sept,  d,  1841.  Laura  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
her  mother  without  assistance  : — 

Dear  My  Mother: 

May  I come  with  Miss  Drew  to  Hanover  if  I will  be 
very  good  and  not  trouble  mother  ? Do  she  want  me 
(to)  come  to  see  her?  I will  try  to  be  good  at  Han- 
over. She  must  write  to  Drew.  I send  love  to  mother. 
May  I make  a pitcher  (purse)  and  chain  for  her  and 
father  in  Hanover?  I send  love  to  father  and  my 
brothers.  Will  mother  be  very  glad  to  see  me  and 
Drew  ? Swift  sends  her  love  to  my  mother.  Swift  and 
Drew  taught  me  good.  I will  come  in  vacation.  I 
am  well.  I ate  with  Jennette  & Doctor.  Man  pricked 
paper ; he  took  my  face  for  mother.  I was  sick.  I 
can  sew  and  study  and  write  and  knit.  Drew  was  sick. 
Lurena  cannot  walk  because  she  is  lame.  I sleep 
with  Drew.  I shall  bring  doll. 

Laura  Bridgman. 

Sept,  9.  Laura  said,  “ I will  go  home  after  six  Sun- 
days ” ; and  added,  after  stopping  some  time  to  calcu- 
late, “ that  would  be  forty-two  days.”  I replied,  “Yes, 
six  times  seven  are  forty- two.”  I perceived  she  had 
arrived  at  it  by  addition,  and  wished  her  to  take  the 
hint  of  the  better  way.  After  a moment’s  thought  I 
saw  it  was  not  lost  upon  her,  for  she  said,  “ Yes,  like 
seven.”  Explained  it  further,  and  then  asked  if  she 
knew  now  why  it  was  “ like  seven.”  “ Yes,”  hesitat- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


73 


ingly.  “ Get  beans.”  After  counting  them  off  she  was 
entirely  satisfied,  and  much  pleased  with  her  new 
knowledge. 

Sept.  12.  Dr.  Howe  told  her  a story,  which  was 
designed  as  a test  of  her  conscientiousness.  We  copy 
his  account  of  it:  “A  little  boy  went  to  see  a lady, 
and  the  lady  gave  him  two  birds,  one  for  himself  and 
one  for  his  sister  ; she  put  them  in  a basket  for  him  to 
carry  home,  and  told  him  not  to  open  the  basket  until 
he  got  home ; the  boy  went  into  the  street  and  met 
another  little  boy,  who  said,  4 Open  the  basket,  and  let 
me  feel  the  birds  * ; and  the  boy  said,  4 No,  no  ’ ; but 
the  other  boy  said,  4 Yes,  yes  ’ ; and  then  the  boy  opened 
the  basket  and  they  felt  of  the  birds.  Did  he  do  right? 
She  paused,  and  said,  4 Yes/  I said,  ‘Why?’  She 
replied,  4 He  did  not  remember.’  I said,  4 If  he  did 
remember,  did  he  do  right?’  She  replied,  4 Little 
wrong  to  forget.’  I then  went  on  to  say,  4 When  the 
boys  did  feel  of  the  birds  one  bird  was  killed.’  Here 
she  became  very  much  excited,  and  manifested  the 
greatest  anxiety  and  distress,  saying,  4 Why  did  boy 
feel  hard  ? Why  did  bird  not  fly  ? ’ I went  on.  4 He 
carried  the  basket  and  birds  home,  and  gave  the  dead 
bird  to  his  sister.  Did  he  do  right  or  wrong?’  She 
said,  4 Wrong.’  4 Why?’  4 To  kill  bird.’  I said,  4 But 
who  must  have  the  live  bird,  the  boy  or  the  girl?’ 
She  said,  4 Girl.’  4 Why  ? ’ 4 Because  bo}T  was  careless, 
and  girl  was  not  careless.’  She  was  at  first  a little 
confused  about  the  persons,  but  decided  promptly  the 
question  of  right  or  wrong,  both  in  respect  to  opening 
the  basket  and  about  who  ought  to  possess  the  bird. 

44  She  supposed  it  was  all  reality,  and  I could  not  well 


74 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


make  her  conceive  the  object  of  the  fable.  Her  mind 
was  for  some  time  entirely  occupied  with  this  story,  and 
she  afterwards  asked,  4 Did  man  knock  (strike)  boy 
because  he  killed  bird?’  I said,  ‘No,  the  bo}T’s 
heart  did  knock  him.  Does  your  heart  knock  jmu  when 
you  do  wrong?’  She  inquired  about  the  beating  of 
the  heart,  and  said,  4 My  heart  did  knock  little  when  I 
did  do  wrong.’ 

44  She  asked,  ‘Why  blood  came  in  face?’  I said, 
4 When  wrong  is  done.’  She  paused  and  said,  4 Blood 
did  come  in  Olive’s  face  when  she  did  tell  lie.  Do 
blood  come  in  your  face  when  you  do  wrong  ? ’ ” 

Sept.  13.  Laura  was  full  of  questions  about  the  story 
which  was  told  her  last  evening,  and  which  has  inter- 
ested her  very  much.  44  How  tall  were  the  little  boys? 
Why  did  he  tell  lie,  and  why  did  he  not  mind  lady? 
Why  did  not  boy  tell  true  and  he  was  wrong  ? ” Gave 
her  the  word  44  story.”  44  Why  did  boys  and  ladies  write 
in  book  ? ” Told  her  boys  did  not  write ; they  told 
man  the  story,  and  he  wrote  it.  44  All  leaves?”  44  Did 
blood  come  into  his  face  when  he  did  wrong  ? ” Told 
her  it  came  into  hers  when  she  was  wrong.  44 1 am 
sorry,”  she  added.  44It  makes  your  face  look  red” 
44  And  pretty?  ” That  her  face  should  not  look  pretty 
when  she  had  done  wrong  troubled  her  much.  She 
said,  4t  I feel  very  bad  because  boy  told  lie  to  make  the 
blood  come  in  his  face.” 

Sept.  16.  She  gave  me  an  account  of  killing  a mouse 
last  night,  and  by  the  aid  of  a few  questions,  made  out 
quite  a graphic  description.  44 1 slept  in  blind  Sarah’s 
room  last  night,  and  I was  very  afraid  because  mouse 
came  ; I walked  on  it,  and  stamped  very  hard.”  44  How 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


75 


did  you  know  it  was  a mouse  ? ” “Because  I felt  hair  and 
tail.  I held  mouse  up,  and  I was  very  afraid  because 
he  moved  and  jumped  much.  He  opened  mouth  and 
made  much  noise.  I stamped  on  him  and  he  was  very 
dead  and  could  not  move.”  This  seemed  a very  improb- 
able story,  and  at  first  I thought  her  imagination  had 
been  at  work,  but  on  going  to  the  room,  found  the 
mouse  was  there,  and  “ very  dead,”  as  she  said. 

In  the  above  account  she  says,  “ He  made  much 
noise.”  In  talking  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood 
she  insisted  that  it  made  a noise,  and  put  my  hand 
on  her  neck  to  feel  the  pulsations,  saying,  " Sit 
very  still  and  see  if  you  do  not  hear  it.”  At 
another  time  she  was  having  a lesson  about  an 
india-rubber  cord  and  said,  "It  makes  noise  when 
I pull  it.”  Told  her  I could  not  hear  it,  but  she 
was  so  sure  of  it  that  she  held  it  close  to  my  ear, 
when,  to  my  surprise,  I could  hear  distinctly  the 
motion  of  the  rubber.  The  only  inference  which 
I can  draw  from  all  these  cases  is,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  the  extreme  sensitiveness  of  her  touch, 
she  distinguishes  the  vibrations  which  we  hear, 
and  which  she  has  observed  me  speak  of  as  sound, 
or  in  her  vocabulary  as  " noise,”  and  so  whenever 
she  perceives  vibrations,  she  supposes  we  can  hear 
them.  In  the  last  instance  her  sense  of  touch  was 
capable  of  detecting  "noise”  more  quickly  than 
my  ear. 

Sept.  17,  “Do  horses  draw  good  when  they  are 


76 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


small  like  me?”  “ No.”  “When  they  are  large  like 
doctor  ? Why  do  horses  love  to  have  men  pat  them  ? 
Do  horses  think?  When  I went  to  get  water,  dog  came 
to  the  door.”  “Was  he  glad  to  see  you?”  “I  did 
not  ask  him  because  he  is  very  dull,  because  he  cannot 
talk  with  his  fingers.”  “ Can  he  talk  with  his  mouth  ? ” 
“No.”  “What  does  the  dog  do  with  mouth?”  She 
made  a noise,  as  she  supposed,  like  barking.  “Do 
horses  bark?  Do  dogs  bark  to  ask  men  for  meat  for 
them  to  eat,  and  when  they  are  cross,  and  when  they 
are  afraid  ? Do  men  talk  to  dogs  when  they  are  cross  ? ” 
“Yes,  they  say,  ‘Be  still!’”  “With  mouth?”  She 
was  quite  indignant  that  dogs  should  hear  when  men 
spoke  with  their  mouths,  and  she  could  not.  “ Do  men 
bark  ? Do  mouse  bark  ? ” 

As  an  illustration  of  the  difficulties  we  met  in 
making  her  understand  accurately  words  signify- 
ing mental  operations,  we  copy  the  following: — 

Sept.  21.  Found  she  had  the  idea  that  to  punish  and 
to  blame  were  synonymous,  and  tried  in  various  ways 
to  correct  it.  I said,  “ Miss  Drew  blames  you  when  she 
thinks  you  are  wrong  and  tells  you  so;  blame  is  to 
think  you  do  wrong.”  She  would  not  wait  for  me  to 
explain  it  further  but  said,  “I  was  cross  when  Anna 
was  here  and  Miss  Drew  blamed  me.”  “She  blamed 
you  because  you  did  what  you  knew  was  wrong.” 

‘ ‘ Why  did  you  not  say  blame  to  me  before  ?'*  “ Because 

we  thought  you  could  not  know  it  before.”  Had  we 
stopped  here,  we  should  have  thought  she  fully  under- 
stood the  word,  but  she  wished  to  use  it  more,  and  said, 
“ Do  Abner  blame  horses  to  ride  very  quick?  ” “No.” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


77 


But  she  insisted  that  he  did,  and  to  illustrate  it  made 
the  motion  of  whipping  the  horse  and  saying,  “ Whip.” 
“ Horse  blames  flies.”  My  answer  was,  “ Blaine  is  not 
to  scold,  or  to  whip,  or  to  strike,  or  to  make  j^ou  sit 
still  and  stay  in  your  room  ; it  is  to  think  you  are  wrong. 
I blame  you  when  I think  you  are  wrong.  When  you 
are  impatient  and  push  me  in  school,  I think  you  are 
wrong  and  I blame  you.”  She  listened  unwillingly  to 
this  explanation,  for  it  was  a little  too  personal  to 
suit.  On  such  occasions,  she  shows  much  adroitness  in 
changing  the  conversation.  Now  she  said,  “Do  Abner 
blame  to  strike  pigs  ? ” “ Why  do  hail  break  grapes  ? ” 

She  was  evidently  thinking  whether  the  hail  was  to 
blame.  I replied,  “ Pigs  and  horses  cannot  know  when 
they  do  wrong,  but  you  and  I know,  and  if  we  do  wrong 
men  will  blame  us  because  we  know.”  She  said,  “ Boy 
came  to  take  grapes,  he  was  very  wrong,”  showing 
great  indignation;  “bird  came  to  eat  them,  and  he 
could  not  know,  because  he  was  very  dull,”  and  here 
she  laughed  heartily.  “Do  you  blame  the  bird?”  I asked. 
“ No.”  “ Do  you  blame  the  boy?  ” “ Yes.  I blamed 

the  boy  I saw  in  Laurena’s  room,  because  he  played 
very  hard,”  and  she  made  the  sign  of  striking.  I said, 
“I  think  you  punished  him  if  you  struck  him. ” Told  her 
a story  of  a little  girl  who  was  sent  to  carry  some  apples, 
and  then  told  the  lady  she  did  not  know  about  them, 
and  of  a dog  who  came  to  take  meat  because  he  was 
hungry.  The  first  excited  her  indignation  so  much 
that  to  a stranger  she  would  have  appeared  as  if  in  a 
passion.  Asked  her,  “Do  you  blame  the  girl?”  “Yes,” 
very  emphatically.  “Was  the  dog  wrong?  ” “ Yes  — • 

no,”  alternately.  I said,  “I  do  not  blame  the  dog, 


78 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


because  he  cannot  know.  I do  not  blame  babies.” 
She  answered  this  by  saying,  “ Thomas  strikes.”  Told 
her,  “ He  is  a little  boy  and  knows,  so  I blamed  him, 
but  Joseph  is  a baby,  he  cannot  know,  because  he  is  not 
old  enough  to  think.” 

Sept.  23.  Laura  told  me  this  morning  doctor  said, 

“ Chair  is  thing,”  and  laughed  as  if  she  thought  it  quite 
absurd.  Took  the  word  for  her  lesson,  and  she  soon 
answered  correctly  when  I gave  her  objects.  Then  she 
asked  if  well  and  white  were  things.  Once  when  she 
mentioned  an  adjective,  I inadvertently  said,  “Yes,” 
and  she  immediately  said,  “Very  wrong.”  She  asked, 
“Why  do  not  doctor  whip  me  with  stick  when  I am  very 
wrong?  Men  whip  horses  with  sticks.”  Told  her 
because  we  could  tell  little  girls  that  we  blame  them 
and  that  it  makes  us  sorry  if  they  do  wrong. 

A lady  visiting  the  school  asked  her  to  write  the 
words,  “ Do  good  and  be  good,”  but  nothing  could 
induce  her  to  do  it  until  she  had  the  promise  of  an 
explanation,  as  she  seemed  to  think  it  not  a proper 
sentence  to  write. 

Sept.  28.  In  speaking  of  some  one  who  she  thought 
had  not  done  rightly,  she  said,  “ I think  she  is  to  blame 
very  much,”  proving  that  the  long  lesson  was  under- 
stood. 

She  was  told  that  a little  girl  had  chicken-pox,  and 
asked,  “ Why  did  she  eat  so  much  chicken  to  make  her 
sick?” 

During  this  month  she  had  frequent  sittings  for  Miss 
Peabody,  who  was  modelling  a bust.  She  rather  enjoyed 
them  as  times  when  she  could  frolic  as  much  as  she 
liked. 


IIP^hy 
OF  THE 

uwvosrTY  OF  !u  wms 


Heliotype  Printing  Co. 

OLIVER  CASWELL  AND  LAURA  D.  BRIDGMAN,  1844. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


79 


Sept  SO.  This  was  a day  of  great  interest  both  to 
Laura  and  myself.  Oliver  Caswell,  the  deaf,  dumb,  and 
blind  boy  arrived,  and  at  noon  I had  the  privilege  of 
giving  him  his  first  idea  of  the  finger  alphabet.*  He 
appeared  much  delighted  with  Laura’s  mode  of  talking, 
and  imitated  her  by  putting  his  hand  in  ours,  and  mak- 
ing movements  with  his  fingers.  He  evidently  discov- 
ered at  once  that  she  was  like  himself,  for  when  he 
wished  to  show  her  anything,  he  put  it  in  her  hand, 
while  he  held  it  up  for  us  to  see. 

Oct.  1.  Dr.  Howe  gave  Oliver  a lesson,  and  he 
learned  to  spell  many  words,  and  to  distinguish  between 
doctor  and  Swift,  when  spelled  to  him.  He  showed  his 
delight  in  being  taught  by  laughing  heartily  after 
each  word  in  which  he  was  successful.  Laura  was  a 
most  interested  spectator,  or  rather  participant,  in  this 
lesson,  for  on  the  day  before,  I had  not  thought  best  to 
allow  her  to  be  in  the  room,  fearing  she  would  distract 
his  attention.  She  became  so  much  excited  that  she 
forgot  herself,  and  kissed  him,  and  when  she  came 
to  me  for  her  lesson  in  the  afternoon  she  was  much 
troubled,  and  could  not  speak  of  it  without  blushing 
very  much.  Yet  she  seemed  to  have  a conflict  in  her 
own  mind  about  it,  for  she  said  she  thought  it  was  as 
well  as  for  little  Maria  to  kiss  Doctor  before  she  went 
to  bed.  After  a long  talk,  she  concluded  it  would  be 
very  wrong,  u Doctor  would  say  I was  very  wrong  and 
would  point  at  me.”  Evidently  her  love  of  appproba- 
tion  helped  her  natural  modesty  in  settling  the  question, 
and  it  was  a final  decision,  for  I think  she  never  kissed 
him  again. 


*See  Appendix. 


80 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Oct.  4.  She  was  surprised  this  morn  to  learn  that 
the  air  was  everywhere.  She  happened  to  ask  me  where 
the  wind  was  to  make  the  fire  in  the  furnace,  and  ex- 
plained what  she  meant  by  saying,  u Match  must  have 
air  to  make  it  burn,  and  how  could  air  be  in  the  furnace  ? ” 
A lesson  on  trades  followed  ; she  said,  “ Gown-maker  is 
carpenter,  because  cloth  is  made  in  loom,  and  man 
makes  cloth.”  She  could  not  see  why  a carpenter  might 
not  as  well  do  a great  many  other  things,  make  walls 
as  well  as  floors. 

Oct.  5.  She  enjoyed  her  lesson  so  much  yester- 
day that  she  came  with  man}"  questions  this  morning. 
Laura  gains  in  one  way  upon  children  who  have  all  their 
senses.  If  interested  in  anything  specially,  she  does 
not  forget  it,  but  while  dressing,  or  working,  or  however 
occupied,  her  mind  is  upon  it,  while  other  children  go 
from  their  lessons  into  a world  which  presents  so  much 
to  take  their  attention  that  the  lesson  is  hardly  thought 
of  before  another  school-day  comes.  To-day  she  had 
a long  list  of  things,  and  wished  to  know  the  names  of 
the  makers.  Was  much  interested  in  sailors.  The 
idea  that  they  were  sailing  day  after  day,  “ all  days,”  as 
she  expressed  it,  was  new  to  her.  “Do  they  gobecause 
ladies  and  men  buy  things,  and  men  want  more  to  put 
in  store?”  Feeling  a stone  in  a ring  she  asked,  “ Did 
mason  make  rings  with  stones  ? ” For  some  time  after 
this  lesson  she  inquired,  when  introduced  to  gentlemen, 
if  they  were  sailors,  carpenters,  or  masons,  etc. 

One  of  the  greatest  trials  Laura  has  is  the  restraint 
we  are  obliged  to  put  upon  her  in  making  loud  noises, 
tf  she  is  interested  in  her  lessons  or  excited,  pleasantly 
or  unpleasantly,  she  is  inclined  to  utter  sounds  which 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


81 


are  very  disagreeable.  She  has  a pleasant  ringing 
! laugh,  and  we  never  object  to  her  laughing  as  much  as 
she  likes.  She  has  for  a few  weeks  been  trying  to  be 
quiet,  as  Dr.  Howe  has  been  away,  and  she  is  ambitious 
to  surprise  him  when  he  returns. 


82 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Miss  Drew  accompanied  her  on  a visit  to  her 
mother  in  October.  They  met  Dr.  Howe  in  Con- 
cord and  gave  an  exhibition  of  Laura  in  the  State 
House  before  many  of  the  citizens. 

From  this  place  they  went  to  Hartford,  and  vis-  ; 
ited  Julia  Brace  at  the  Asylum  for  Deaf-Mutes. 
When  Laura  was  told  she  was  deaf  and  blind  like  ! 
herself,  she  became  much  excited,  and  asked,  "Can 
she  talk  with  her  finders?”  On  being  told  she 
had  never  been  taught,  she  tried  to  place  her  fin- 
gers in  position  for  the  letter  a,  but  Julia’s  chief 
interest  was  in  the  examination  of  Laura’s  dress. 
The  teacher  thought  that  by  signs  she  made  her 
understand  they  were  alike.  She  also  visited  Mrs. 

L.  H.  Sigourney,  who  wrote  on  the  occasion  the 
following  poem : — 

LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 

THE  DEAF,  DUMB,  AND  BLIND  GIRL  AT  THE  INSTITUTION  FOR 
THE  BLIND  IN  BOSTON. 

Where  is  the  light  that  to  the  eye 
Heaven’s  holy  message  gave, 

Tinging  the  retina  with  rays 
From  sky  and  earth  and  wave? 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


83 


Where  is  the  sound  that  to  the  soul 
Mysterious  passage  wrought, 

And  strangely  made  the  moving  lip 
A harp-string  for  the  thought? 

All  fled ! All  lost ! Not  even  the  rose 
An  odor  leaves  behind, 

That,  like  a broken  reed,  might  trace 
The  tablet  of  the  mind. 

That  mind ! It  struggles  with  its  fate, 
The  anxious  conflict,  see. 

As  if  through  Bastile  bars  it  sought 
Communion  with  the  free. 

Yet  still  its  prison  robe  it  wears 
Without  a prisoner’s  pain, 

For  happy  childhood’s  beaming  sun 
Glows  in  each  bounding  vein. 

And  bless’d  Philosophy  is  near, 

In  Christian  armor  bright, 

To  scan  the  subtlest  clew  that  leads 
To  intellectual  light. 

Say,  lurks  there  not  some  ray  of  heaven 
Amid  thy  bosom’s  night, 

Some  echo  from  a better  land, 

To  make  thy  smile  so  bright? 

The  lonely  lamp  in  Greenland  cell, 

Deep  ’neath  a world  of  snow, 

Doth  cheer  the  loving  household  group 
Though  none  beside  may  know ; 

And,  sweet  one,  doth  our  Father’s  hand 
Place  in  thy  casket  dim 
A radiant  and  peculiar  lamp, 

To  guide  thy  steps  to  Him? 


84 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


At  the  close  of  this  visit  Laura  had  the  grief  of 
parting  with  her  old  and  much-loved  teacher,  who  ! 
left  her  to  go  to  a home  of  her  own.  She  had 
been  with  her  nearly  all  the  time  since  she  came 
to  the  Institution,  and  to  her  untiring  patience  and 
perseverance  she  was  indebted  for  the  most  of 
her  early  instruction. 


Dec.  8.  She  received  an  invitation  from  her  old  i 
teacher,  Miss  Drew,  to  visit  her.  This  gave  her  great  ; i 
pleasure,  but  she  found  much  fault  with  her  because  she  ; 
signed  her  old  name  Drew,  “ when  her  name  is  Morton  i 
now.”  Allusion  has  been  made  to  her  habit  of  making ;; 
a different  noise  for  each  person  : she  had  one  for  Miss  ! 
Drew,  but  now  she  said  she  must  find  another,  as  the  j 
one  for  Drew  must  not  be  the  same  as  for  Morton. 

Dec.  31.  Lesson  on  Christmas  presents,  and  tried  j 
to  interest  her  in  New  Year’s  Day,  the  number  of  days ; 
in  a year,  etc.,  but  she  is  just  now  anxious  to  talk  only 
on  subjects  that  will  furnish  new  words.  “ I want  you 
to  tell  me  new  many  words.  What  does  language, . 
syllable,  divided,  evil,  mean  ? ” She  wished  me  to  know  I 
what  she  had  learned,  and  said,  “ O ! is  when  you  are  | 
glad,  and  Oh  ! is  when  we  are  afraid.  Lydia  is  oh  ! of  * 
doctor.  Was  Lydia  naughty  and  bad  to  be  afraid  of  “I 
doctor?”  It  was  evident  she  had  been  talking  with 
some  of  the  blind  girls  and  only  half  understood  what  j 
the}7  had  tried  to  teach  her. 

Having  completed  the  extracts  from  the  journal} j 
for  the  year  1841,  we  quote  from  Dr.  Howe’s  re-  j 


! 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


85 


port*  a statement  of  her  physical  and  mental  con- 
dition at  this  period  : — 

44  I shall  first  give  an  account  of  what  may  be  called 
her  physical  condition,  and  its  attendant  phenomena. 
She  has  had  almost  uninterrupted  health,  and  has  grown 
in  stature  and  strength.  She  is  now  tall  of  her  age 
(twelve  years) , well  proportioned,  and  very  strong  and 
active.  The  acuteness  of  her  touch,  and  of  the  sense 
of  feeling  generally,  has  increased  sensibly  during  the 
last  year.  She  can  perceive  when  any  one  touches  a 
piano  in  the  same  room  with  her ; she  says,  4 Sound 
comes  through  the  floor  to  my  feet,  and  up  to  my  head.* 
She  recognizes  her  friends  by  the  slightest  touch  of  their 
hands,  or  of  their  dress.  For  instance,  she  never  fails 
to  notice  when  I have  changed  my  coat,  though  it  be 
for  one  of  the  same  cut,  color,  and  cloth ; if  it  is  only  a 
little  more  or  less  worn  than  the  usual  one,  she  perceives 
it,  and  asks,  4 Why  ? ’ It  would  appear  that  in  these 
perceptions  she  employs  not  only  the  sense  of  touch, 
but  derives  great  assistance  from  what  Brown  would  call 
a sixth  sense,  viz.,  the  sense  of  muscular  resistance. 
Aided  by  both  of  these,  she  has  acquired  surprising 
facility  in  ascertaining  the  situation  and  relation  of 
things  around  her.  Especially  is  it  curious  to  see  how 
accurate  is  her  perception  of  the  direction  or  bearing  of 
objects  from  her  ; for  by  much  practice  and  observation, 
she  has  attained,  to  some  extent,  what  the  bee  and  some 
other  insects  have  in  such  perfection  by  instinct,  — the 
power  of  going  straight  towards  a given  point,  without 


* Tenth  Annual  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  Perkins  Institution 
and  Massachusetts  Asylum  for  the  Blind. 


86 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


any  guide  or  landmark.  For  instance,  when  she  is 
told  to  go  from  any  part  of  the  room  to  a particular 
door  or  window,  she  goes  directly  and  confidently  on, 
not  groping,  or  feeling  the  walls  ; she  stops  at  the  right  1 
instant,  raises  her  hand  in  the  right  direction,  and  places  i 
it  upon  the  door-knob,  or  whatever  point  she  may  have  | 
aimed  at.  Of  course  it  is  not  supposed  that  she  can  ! 
exercise  this  power  when  she  is  in  a new  place,  but  that  j 
she  has  attained  great  facility  in  ascertaining  her  actual  1 
position  in  regard  to  external  things. 

“ I am  inclined  to  think  that  this  power  is  much 
more  common  than  is  usually  supposed,  and  that  man 
has  the  desire  and  the  capacity  of  knowing  all  the  rela- 
tions of  outness  (to  use  a word  of  Berkeley) , so  strongly 
marked  as  almost  to  deserve  the  name  of  a primitive 
faculty.  The  first  impulse  on  waking  in  the  morning 
is  to  ascertain  where  we  are,  and  although  the  effort  to 
ascertain  it  may  not  be  apparent  in  common  cases,  yet, , 
let  a person  be  turned  round  when  he  is  asleep,  and  see 
how  instantaneously  on  waking  he  looks  about  to  ascer- 
tain his  position ; or,  if  he  is  tying  awake  in  the  dark 
and  his  bed  should  be  turned  round,  see  how  difficult  it 
would  be  for  him  to  go  to  sleep  without  stretching  out 
his  hand  to  feel  the  wall,  or  something  by  which  the 
desire  in  question  maybe  gratified.  Swing  a boy  round 
till  he  is  dizzy,  look  at  a girl  stopping  giddy  from  the 
waltz,  or  a person  who  has  been  playing  blind  man’s 
buff,  and  has  just  raised  the  handkerchief,  and  mark 
how,  by  holding  the  head  as  if  to  steady  it,  and  eagerly 
looking  around,  the  first  and  involuntary  effort  of  each 
one  is  to  ascertain  the  relations  of  outness.  . . 3 

Who  could  be  easy  a moment  if  he  had  no  notion  of 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


87 


what  he  was  sitting  or  standing  upon,  or  any  percep- 
tion or  idea  of  being  supported  and  surrounded  by 
material  objects? 

“ Laura,  or  any  blind  child,  if  taken  up  in  a person’s 
arms,  carried  into  a strange  room  and  placed  in  a chair, 
could  not  resist  the  inclination  to  stretch  out  her  hands 
and  ascertain  by  feeling  the  relations  of  space  and 
objects  about  her.  In  walking  in  the  street  she  en- 
deavors to  learn  all  she  can  of  the  nature  of  the 
ground  she  is  treading  on ; but  she  gives  herself  up 
generally  to  her  leader,  clinging  very  closely  to  her. 
I have  sometimes,  in  play,  or  to  note  the  effect,  sud- 
denly dropped  her  hand  when  she  was  in  a strange  place 
and  started  out  of  her  reach,  at  which  she  manifested 
not  fear,  but  bewilderment  and  perplexity. 

“ I have  said  she  measures  distances  very  accurately, 
and  this  she  seems  to  do  principally  by  the  aid  of  what 
Brown  calls  the  sixth  sense,  or  muscular  contraction, 
and  perhaps  by  that  faculty  to  which  I have  alluded 
above,  by  which  we  attend  to  the  relations  of  outness . 
When  we  ascend  a flight  of  steps,  for  instance,  we 
measure  several  steps  with  the  e}Te ; but  once  having 
got  the  gauge  of  them  we  go  up  without  looking,  meas- 
ure the  distance  which  we  are  to  raise  the  foot,  even 
to  the  sixteenth  of  an  inch,  by  the  sense  of  con- 
traction of  the  muscles ; and  that  we  measure  accu- 
rately, is  proved  when  we  come  to  a step  that  is  but 
a trifle  higher  or  lower  than  the  rest,  in  which  case  we 
stumble. 

“I  have  tried  to  ascertain  her  mode  of  estimating 
distance,  length,  etc.,  by  drawing  smooth,  hard  sub- 
stances through  her  hand.  When  a cane,  for  instance, 


88 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


is  thus  drawn  through  her  hand,  she  says  it  is  long 
or  short,  somewhat  according  as  it  is  moved  with  more 
or  less  rapidity,  that  is,  according  to  the  duration 
of  the  impression;  but  I am  inclined  to  think  she 
gets  some  idea  of  the  rapidity  of  the  motion  even  of 
the  smoothest  substances,  and  modifies  her  judgment 
thereby. 

“I  have  tried  to  excite  the  dormant  senses,  or  to 
create  impressions  upon  the  brain,  which  resemble 
sensations,  by  electricity  and  galvanism,  but  with  only 
partial  success.  When  a galvanic  circuit  is  made  by 
pressing  one  piece  of  metal  against  the  mucous  mem- 
brane of  the  nose,  and  another  against  the  tongue,  the 
nerves  of  taste  are  affected,  and  she  says  it  is  like 
medicine. 

“ The  subject  of  dreaming  has  been  attended  to,  with 
a view  of  ascertaining  whether  there  is  any  sponta- 
neous activity  of  the  brain,  or  any  part  of  it,  which 
would  give  her  sensations  resembling  those  arising 
from  the  action  of  light,  sound,  etc.,  upon  other  per- 
sons, but  as  yet  without  obtaining  positive  evidence 
that  there  is  any.  Further  inquiry,  when  she  is  more 
capable  of  talking  on  intellectual  subjects,  may  change 
this  opinion,  but  now  it  seems  to  me  that  her  dreams 
are  only  the  spontaneous  production  of  sensations, 
similar  in  kind  to  those  which  she  experiences  while 
awake  (whether  preceded  or  accompanied  by  any  cere- 
bral action  cannot  be  known) . She  often  relates  her 
dreams,  and  says,  ‘ I dreamed  to  talk  with  a person,’ 

‘ to  walk  with  one,’  etc.  If  asked  whether  she  talked 
with  her  mouth,  she  says,  4 No,’  very  emphatically, 

‘ I do  not  dream  to  talk  with  mouth  ; I dream  to  talk 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


89 


with  fingers.’  Neither  does  she  ever  dream  of  seeing 
persons,  but  only  of  meeting  them  in  her  usual  way. 
She  came  to  me  the  other  morning  with  a disturbed 
look,  and  said,  * I cried  much  in  the  night,  because  I 
did  dream  you  said  good  by,  to  go  away  over  the 
water.’  In  a word,  her  dreams  seem,  as  ours  do,  to 
be  the  result  of  the  spontaneous  activity  of  the  different 
mental  faculties,  producing  sensations  similar  in  kind 
to  our  waking  ones,  but  without  order  or  congruity, 
because  uncontrolled  by  the  will. 

“ In  the  development  of  her  intellectual  powers,  and 
in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  not  only  of  language, 
but  of  external  things  and  their  relations,  I think  she 
has  made  great  progress.  The  principal  labor  has,  of 
course,  been  upon  the  mere  vehicle  for  thought,  — 
language ; and  if,  as  has  been  remarked,  it  is  well  for 
children  that  they  do  not  know  what  a task  is  before 
them  when  they  begin  to  learn  language  (for  their 
hearts  would  sink  within  them  at  the  thought  of  forty 
thousand  unknown  signs  of  unknown  things  which  they 
are  to  learn) , how  much  more  strongly  does  the  remark 
apply  to  Laura  ! They  hear  these  words  on  every  side, 
at  every  moment,  and  learn  them  without  effort ; they 
see  them  in  books,  and  every  day  scores  of  them  are 
recorded  in  their  minds.  The  mountain  of  their  diffi- 
culty vanishes  fast,  and  they  finish  their  labor,  think- 
ing, in  the  innocence  of  their  hearts,  that  it  is  only 
play ; but  she,  poor  thing,  in  darkness  and  silence  must 
attack  her  mountain,  and  weigh  and  measure  every 
grain  of  which  it  is  composed ; and  it  is  a rebuke  to 
those  who  find  so  many  lions  in  the  path  of  knowledge, 
to  see  how  incessantly  and  devotedly  she  labors  on 


90 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


from  morn  till  night  of  every  day,  and  laughs  as  if  hei 
task  were  the  pleasantest  thing  in  the  world. 

“ I mentioned  some  circumstances  in  my  last  report, 
which  made  me  infer  her  native  modesty,  and  although 
such  a supposition  seems  to  some  unphilosophical,  I can 
only  say  that  careful  observation  during  the  past  year 
corroborates  the  opinion  then  advanced.  Nor  have  I 
any  difficulty  in  supposing  that  there  is  this  innate  ten- 
dency to  purity1 ; but  on  the  contrary,  I think  it  forms 
an  important  and  beautiful  element  of  humanity,  the 
natural  course  of  which  is  towards  that  state  of  refine- 
ment, in  which,  while  the  animal  appetites  shall  work 
out  their  own  ends,  they  shall  all  of  them  be  stripped  of 
their  grossness,  and  clad  in  garments  of  purity,  contrib- 
ute to  the  perfection  of  a race  made  in  God’s  own 
image. 

“ Laura  is  still  so  young,  and  her  physical  develop- 
ment is  yet  so  imperfect,  she  is  so  childlike  in  appear- 
ance and  action,  that  it  is  impossible  to  suppose  she  has 
as3ret  any  idea  of  sex  ; nevertheless,  no  young  lady  can 
be  more  modest  and  proper  in  dress  and  demeanor  than 
she  is.  It  has  been  suggested  that,  as  her  father  was 
obliged,  when  she  was  young,  to  coerce  her  to  many 
things  which  she  was  disinclined  to  do,  she  may  have 
conceived  a fear  of  every  one  in  man’s  dress.  But  on 
the  other  hand,  she  was  much  accustomed,  from  child- 
hood, to  the  society  of  a simple,  kind-hearted  man,  who 
loved  her  tenderly,  and  with  whom  she  was  perfectly 
familiar ; it  was  not,  therefore,  the  dress  which  affected 
her. 

“ I may  add,  moreover,  that  from  the  time  she  came 
here,  she  has  never  been  accustomed  to  be  in  company 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


91 


with  any  man  but  myself ; and  that  I have,  in  view  of 
the  future,  very  carefully  refrained  from  even  those 
endearing  caresses  which  are  naturally  bestowed  upon  a 
child  of  eight  years  old,  to  whom  one  is  tenderly 
attached.  But  this  will  not  account  for  such  facts  as 
the  following.  During  the  last  year,  she  received  from 
a lady  a present  of  a beautifully  dressed  doll,  with  a bed 
and  bedclothes,  and  chamber  furniture  of  all  kinds. 
Never  was  a child  happier  than  she  was ; and  a long 
time  passed  in  examining  and  admiring  the  wardrobe 
and  furniture.  The  wash-stand  was  arranged,  towels 
were  folded,  the  bureau  was  put  in  place,  the  linen  was 
deposited  in  the  tiny  drawers ; at  last  the  bed  was 
nicely  made,  the  pillows  smoothed,  the  top  sheet  turned 
trimly  over,  and  the  bed  half  opened,  as  if  coquettishly 
inviting  Miss  Dolly  to  come  in  ; but  here  Laura  began 
to  hesitate,  and  kept  coming  to  my  chair  to  see  if  I 
was  still  in  the  room,  and  going  away  again,  laughing, 
when  she  found  me.  At  last  I went  out,  and  as  soon 
as  she  perceived  the  jar  of  the  shutting  door,  she  com- 
menced undressing  the  doll,  and  putting  it  to  bed, 
eagerly  desiring  her  teacher  (a  lady)  to  admire  the  oper- 
ation. 

“ She,  as  I said,  is  not  familiarly  acquainted  with  any 
man  but  myself.  When  she  meets  with  one,  she  shrinks 
back  coyly  ; though  if  it  be  a lady,  she  is  familiar,  and 
will  receive  and  return  caresses  ; nevertheless,  she  has 
no  manner  of  fear  or  awe  of  me.  She  plays  with  me  as 
she  would  with  a girl.  Hardly  a day  passes  without  a 
game  at  romps  between  us ; yet  never,  even  by  inad- 
vertence, does  she  transgress  the  most  scrupulous  pro- 
priety, and  would  as  instinctively  and  promptly  correct 


92 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


any  derangement  of  her  dress,  as  a girl  of  fourteen, 
trained  to  the  strictest  decorum.  Perceiving,  one  day, 
that  I kissed  a little  girl  much  younger  than  herself,  she 
noticed  it,  and  stood  thinking  a moment,  and  then  asked 
me  gravely,  ‘ Why  did  you  kiss  Eebecca  ? ’ and  some 
hours  after,  she  asked  the  same  question  again.” 

Dr.  Howe  closes  this  report  with  the  following 
remarks  upon  her  ideas  of  God,  and  his  plans  for 
her  future  instruction  : — 

“ During  the  past  year  she  has  shown  very  great 
inquisitiveness  in  relation  to  the  origin  of  things.  She 
knows  that  men  made  houses,  furniture,  etc.,  but  of  her 
own  accord  seemed  to  infer  that  they  did  not  make 
themselves  or  natural  objects.  She  therefore  asks, 
‘Who  made  dogs,  horses,  and  sheep?’  She  has  got 
from  books,  and  perhaps  from  other  children,  the  word 
God,  but  has  formed  no  definite  idea  on  the  subject.. 
Not  long  since,  when  her  teacher  was  explaining  the 
structure  of  a house,  she  was  puzzled  to  know  ‘ How 
the  masons  piled  up  bricks  before  floor  was  made  to 
stand  on  ? ’ When  this  was  explained  she  asked,  ‘ When 
did  masons  make  Jeannette’s  parlor,  — before  all  Gods 
made  all  folks  ? ’ 

“ I am  now  occupied  in  devising  various  ways  of  giv- 
ing her  an  idea  of  immaterial  power  by  means  of  the 
attraction  of  magnets,  the  pushing  of  vegetation,  etc., 
and  intend  attempting  to  convey  to  her  some  adequate 
idea  of  the  great  Creator  and  Euler  of  all  things.  Iam 
fully  aware  of  the  immeasurable  importance  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  of  my  own  inadequacy  ; I am  aware,  too,  that, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


93 


pursue  what  course  I may,  I shall  incur  more  of  human 
censure  than  of  approbation  ; but,  incited  by  the  warm- 
est affection  for  the  child,  and  guided  by  the  best  exer- 
cise of  the  humble  abilities  which  God  has  given  me,  I 
shall  go  on  in  the  attempt  to  give  her  a faint  idea  of 
the  power  and  love  of  that  Being,  whose  praise  she  is 
every  day  so  clearly  proclaiming  by  her  glad  enjoyment 
of  the  existence  which  he  has  given  to  her.” 


94 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

During  the  year  1842  Laura  was  taught  one 
hour  daily  by  Miss  Rogers  (Miss  Drew’s  succes- 
sor) and  two  hours  by  myself. 

As  in  the  year  preceding,  there  was  little  system 
in  the  course  of  instruction.  Our  aim  was  to 
improve  her  language  and  add  to  her  general 
information.  A review  of  the  work  done  leads 
me  to  say  that  she  advanced  despite  all  disadvan- 
tages. 

In  the  extracts  from  journals  which  follow,  it 
should  be  understood  that  all  remarks  which  are 
quoted  as  her  own  expressions  are  unchanged, 
even  in  orthography. 

It  was  my  custom  to  have  lying  before  me  paper 
and  pencil,  and  the  exact  words  of  all  sentences 
which  were  of  interest  were  noted  at  once.  It 
may  be  a surprise  that  her  spelling  was  so  uni- 
formly correct,  but  when  it  is  remembered  that 
she  never  makes  use  of  a word  without  giving  its 
component  letters,  this  is  easily  accounted  for. 
She  has  only  two  ways  of  using  language  ; the  one 
requires  her  to  make  each  letter  with  the  fingers, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


95 


the  other  to  write  it  with  her  pencil.  She  is  not 
led  into  error  by  the  sound  of  the  word,  as  chil- 
dren who  can  hear  constantly  are,  nor  by  the  rec- 
ollection of  its  appearance  when  written  ; but  it  is 
a matter  of  simple  memory,  and  if  that  fail,  there 
can  be  no  possibility  of  spelling  by  analogy,  or  in 
any  way  making  good  the  deficiency.  It  becomes 
a lost  word,  until  such  time  as  it  shall  be  used  by 
some  one  in  conversation  with  her,  and  so  recov- 
ered. 

At  this  time  she  had  only  one  book  which  she 
attempted  to  read,  there  being  no  elementary 
books  printed  in  the  raised  type.  This  was  called 
"The  Child’s  First  Book,”  and  while  it  was  all  that 
was  required  for  the  blind  children,  who  did  not 
enter  the  school  until  they  understood  ordinary 
language,  it  proved  a labyrinth  of  difficulties  to 
Laura,  and  even  at  this  date  a few  lines  furnished 
work  for  a day’s  explanation. 

Jan.  8 , 1842.  Laura  has  had  a present  of  a toy  range 
which  has  a lamp  to  serve  instead  of  fire  She  spent 
the  most  of  her  lesson  time  in  asking  “the  why”  of 
every  part,  even  to  the  little  air-holes  in  the  top  of  the 
lamp  ; nothing  escaped  her  observation.  Having  satis- 
fied herself  on  this,  she  said  she  had  new  words  which 
she  had  found  in  her  book,  and  wanted  me  to  tell  her 
about,  “articulate  sounds,  vowels,  consonants,  etc.” 
One  would  suppose  that  it  would  have  taken  her  hours 
to  remember  how  to  spell  such  words,  and  the  work  of 


96 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


explaining  them  looked  equally  laborious.  The  first 
she  soon  understood,  but  I told  her  no  little  girls  learned 
about  vowels ; she  must  wait  till  she  was  older.  She 
replied,  “ You  told  me  when  Miss  Drew  was  here,”  and 
then  she  repeated  them,  and  asked,  “ What  is  w and  y ? ,l 
I supposed  she  would  not  be  satisfied  without  an  answer 
to  the  question  why  they  were  called  vowels,  but  as  the 
lesson  was  continued  while  taking  a walk,  she  changed 
the  subject.  We  found  four  boats  drawn  up  on  the 
shore,  which  she  was  very  happy  in  examining ; her 
questions  were  so  numerous  it  took  long  to  answer  them. 
She  had  been  shown  a fish-hook,  and  supposed  that  men 
had  to  get  out  of  the  boats  to  get  the  fish  in ; wanted 
to  know  why  boats  should  not  have  wheels  instead  of 
keels.  Asked  if  fire  made  these  boats  go.  On  being 
told  no,  she  said  I was  very  wrong,  that  fire  was  in  a large 
boat.  Explained  the  difference  in  boats  and  the  use  of 
oars.  “Do  water  roll  much  and  come  over  men  in 
boat?  Who  put  fishes  in  water? ” 

Jan.  13.  Laura  had  found  a notice  of  a Trustees' 
meeting,  which  was  printed  in  raised  letters,  and  brought 
it  for  explanation.  “What  are  Trustees?”  When 
told  they  were  men  who  took  care  of  this  house,  “And 
the  girls  and  boys  ? ” she  added,  ‘ ‘ and  horses  ? ” After 
a long  explanation  of  “ Sir,”  “ Yours  respectfully,  etc.,” 
I asked  her  if  she  knew  about  it  now.  “Little, — 
because  you  said  long  words.”  It  always  makes  her 
unhappy  to  be  left  with  a subject  half  understood,  so  I 
went  over  it  all  again  and  explained  it  to  her  satisfaction. 

Jan.  15.  Some  one  had  given  her  an  almanac,  and 
she  brought  it  to  me  with  a sad  face,  saying,  “ Jenny 
sent  me  book  and  I cannot  know,  there  are  many 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


97 


hard  words  on  all  leaves  that  I cannot  know.”  Told 
her  we  would  talk  about  it,  and  I could  tell  her  a great 
deal  that  was  in  it.  So  we  turned  leaf  after  leaf,  and 
she  wished  to  be  told  4 ‘ everything  ” there  was  on  a 
page,  and  to  have  the  pictures  at  die  head  of  each  month 
explained.  The  blank  leaves  for  memoranda  pleased 
her.  At  the  end  of  the  lesson  she  was  as  “ triumphant 
as  one  who  has  taken  a city,”  and  her  comment  upon 
the  one  who  had  told  her  she  could  not  understand 
about  it  was,  “ She  is  very  blind,  she  did  not  see  to 
tell  me  about  many  things.” 

It  was  the  wish  of  Dr.  Howe  to  give  her  all 
ideas  concerning  death  himself,  but  she  often  sur- 
prised her  teachers  by  use  of  expressions  which  had 
never  been  taught  her  by  them.  It  must  be  remem- 
bered that  she  was  constantly  meeting  the  blind 
girls,  while  passing  to  and  from  the  school-room, 
and  she  never  missed  an  opportunity  for  conver- 
sation, often  holding  them  unwilling  listeners.  She 
rarely  told  us  of  new  words  or  ideas  acquired  in 
this  way,  at  once,  but  only  as  they  were  suggested 
to  her  mind  in  some  lesson.  For  example,  speak- 
ing of  Cambridge  to-day  suggested  an  occurrence 
of  over  a year  ago,  when  she  had  been  at  the 
Institution  only  about  two  years.  There  were  two 
little  sisters  from  that  place,  who  were  in  our 
blind  family,  Adeline  and  Elizabeth.  Adeline 
died  at  her  home.  She  asked,  "Did  you  see 
Adeline  in  box?”  "Yes.”  "She  was  very  cold 
and  not  smooth;  ground  made  her  rough.”  I 


98 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


tried  to  change  the  subject  here,  but  it  was  in 
vain  ; she  wished  to  know  how  long  the  box  was, 
etc.,  and  said,  " Drew  told  me  about  Adeline  : did 
she  feel  ? Did  Elizabeth  cry  and  feel  sick  ? I did 
not  cry,  because  I did  not  think  much  about  it.” 
She  drew  her  hands  in  with  a shudder,  and  I asked 
if  she  was  cold.  She  said,  "I  thought  about  I 
was  afraid  to  feel  of  dead  man  before  I came  here, 
when  I was  very  little  girl  with  my  mother;  I 
felt  of  dead  head’s  eyes  and  nose ; I thought  it 
was  man’s ; I did  not  know.” 

I desire  to  call  particular  attention  to  this  conver- 
sation, and  to  have  the  reader  distinctly  under- 
stand the  circumstances.  A blind,  deaf,  and  dumb 
child,  not  over  six  years  old,  was  led  beside  a coffin, 
and  her  hand  placed  on  the  features  of  a corpse. 
No  one  could  communicate  with  her  in  any  way 
to  tell  her  the  meaning  of  it,  and  all  she  could 
know  was  the  coldness  and  rigidity,  which  to  her 
sensitive  touch  must  have  been  so  terrible.  Are 
we  surprised  that  now,  when  language  has  been 
given  her,  in  which  she  can  describe  the  feelings 
and  tell  of  the  thoughts  which  must  have  been 
indelibly  impressed  upon  her  mind,  she  says  she 
"was  afraid,”  and  shudders  at  the  recollec  <on? 
She  added,  "I  thought  it  was  man’s”  (shf  was 
correct) , " I did  not  know.”  Does  not  this  little 
sentence  settle  beyond  dispute  the  question,  "Can 
we  think  without  words  ? ” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


99 


Jan.  24.  She  has  been  thinking  much  of  the  lesson 
on  boats  and  ships,  and  came  to  me  to  ask,  if  ships  were 
so  large  and  high,  how  men  could  get  into  them.  To 
test  her  powers  of  receiving  ideas  through  illustrations 
that  would  require  her  imagination  to  work  quite 
actively,  I built  up  objects  in  the  room  to  represent  a 
ship,  told  her  she  must  think  of  the  floor  as  being  water, 
and  the  rug  as  the  ground,  and  laid  a plank  to  let  her 
see  how  she  could  get  up  to  it.  She  was  delighted  with 
it  all,  and  the  lesson  was  a success. 

Jan.  29.  To-day  Laura  had  the  honor  of  a call  from 
Charles  Dickens.  His  great  interest  in  her  caused  him 
to  remain  for  several  hours.  She  was  animated  in  con- 
versation, and  I think  he  received  a very  correct  impres- 
sion of  her. 

His  " Notes  on  America  ” contain  several  pages 
of  description  of  this  visit. 

In  this  connection  I wish  to  explain,  what  was 
perhaps  often  misunderstood  by  visitors  to  Laura, 
during  this  period  of  her  life.  Out  of  the  fulness 
of  the  heart  many  words  of  kindness,  and  many  of 
flattery,  were  dictated  to  us  to  interpret  to  her. 
The  former  we  always  repeated  literally,  but  we 
evaded  the  latter.  Persons  did  not  realize  that 
a child  placed  in  her  position  would  naturally 
become  proud,  selfish,  and  disagreeable  in  many 
ways,  and  that  more  than  ordinary  care  must  be 
taken  to  guard  her  from  all  influences  which  would 
produce  these  effects.  When  taken  to  the  school- 
room for  exhibition,  she  was  told  that  the  blind 


100 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


girls  were  sitting  in  their  desks  all  around  the 
room,  and  that  ladies  and  gentlemen  came  to  see 
how  the  blind  could  be  taught.  She  never  had  an 
idea  that  her  share  of  attention  was  greater  than 
theirs,  but  if  the  hundredth  part  of  the  comments 
which  were  intended  to  reach  her  had  been  re- 
peated, all  our  efforts  to  preserve  her  a mod- 
est, simple-hearted  child  would  have  been  of  no 
avail. 

Feb.  4.  Talking  of  her  plans  for  vacation,  Laura 
made  an  unusually  long  sentence.  “ I must  go  to 
Hanover  to  see  my  mother,  but  I shall  be  very  weak  to 
go  far  ; I will  go  to  Halifax,  if  I can  go  with  you.  If 
Dr.  is  gone  away,  I think  I will  go  with  Jeannette  ; * if 
Dr.  is  at  home,  I cannot  go,  because  he  does  not  like  to 
be  left  alone,  and  if  J.  is  gone  he  cannot  mend  his 
clothes  and  fix  all  things  alone.” 

Feb.  8.  She  had  written  the  following  letter  entirely 
without  assistance  and  brought  it  for  me  to  read.f  It 
was  directed  on  the  outside  to  44  My  Mother,  Hanover.” 

My  Dear  my  Mother  : 

I want  to  see  you  very  much.  I want  you  to  send 
me  some  mince  pie,  and  I want  you  to  write  to  me.  You 
will  write  letter  to  me.  I send  much  love  to  you,  and 
Addison,  and  John  (brothers)  : they  must  send  me  many 
nuts,  because  I love  them  very  much ; you  must  write 
to  me.  I am  very  well  now,  much,  my  doll  is  well. 


* Dr.  Howe’s  sister. 

t The  punctuation  marks  and  capitals  are  ours. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


101 


Lurena  is  well  but  she  is  weak.  Miss  J.  and  Dr.  are 
well.  Miss  Swift  and  Miss  Rogers  teaches  me  many 
days.  Doll  is  better.  I can  write  with  chalk  on 
k°ard-  Laura  Bridgman. 

Her  thoughts  were  still  on  her  home,  and  she  said, 
u My  mother  cried  before  I came  to  Boston,  because 
she  was  very  sad  to  have  me  come  from  home.  Was 
she  silly  ? She  cannot  teach  me  at  home,  I should  be 
very  dull,  and  forget  all.”  She  then  gave  me  a long 
description  of  their  rooms,  laughed  when  she  told  of 
the  low  ceilings,  little  windows,  etc.,  which  she  com- 
pared with  those  of  the  Institution. 

Feb.  9.  Asked  if  she  had  any  4 4 new  words”  for 
me.  In  reply  she  said,  14  Doctor  told  me  about  God  ; 
it  was  very  little  say,  and  he  told  me  when  I was  very 
tall  he  would  teach  me  about  God  much.  Is  it  man? 
Did  it  make  you  and  me  ? ” Told  her  she  must  ask 
Doctor  again  about  it. 

Feb.  16.  Having  noticed  that  Laura  was  growing 
careless  upon  the  use  of  the  verbs,  devoted  the  time  to 
a conversation  on  44  do”  and  44  does,”  which  she  uses  in- 
discriminately. As  an  example  of  the  use  of 44  do,”  she 
said,  44 1 do  go  to  bed  ” ; and  when  corrected,  asked  wh}r 
it  was  not  as  well  to  omit 44  go  ” as 4 4 do.”  She  is  always 
ready  with  illustrations,  and  after  much  thinking,  was 
able  to  correct  the  sentences  herself.  She  made  such 
mistakes  as  44 1 have  not  been  to  walk  yesterday,”  44  I 
did  not  know  if  she  could  hear,”  etc.  Asked  her  if  she 
would  try  to  remember  the  lesson.  44  Yes,  when  I am 
not  in  much  hurry.” 

Feb.  17.  She  brought  me  a letter  she  had  received, 


102 


LAVRA  BRIDGMAN. 


saying,  with  great  indignation,  “Doctor  opened  and 
read  it  to  me.  Doctor  was  wrong  to  open  little  girl’s 
letters  ; little  girls  open  tkeirself.” 

Feb.  19.  Talked  about  monkeys.  After  answering 
the  usual  questions  which  she  asks  about  every  new 
animal,  told  her  a story  of  one  who  liked  to  kiss  little 
girls.  Found  that  she  supposed  a monkey  could  talk, 
and  when  told  he  could  not,  she  looked  as  if  much 
relieved,  though  she  asked  immeaiately  if  he  could  see. 

Feb.  23.  Talking  about  the  veins,  told  her  they 
were  blue;  she  asked,  “Are  they  pretty?”  This  is 
her  favorite  color.  I drew  my  finger  over  them  in  her 
neck  and  face,  and  it  seemed  to  her  veiy  ridiculous 
that  there  should*  be  so  many  colors  in  her  face. 

Feb.  25.  In  the  midst  of  a conversation  upon  every- 
day occurrences  she  said  abruptly,  “ I want  to  see 
God,  I want  Doctor  to  make  me  see.”  Speaking  of 
being  tall,  asked  her  if  she  wished  to  be  tall.  “ Yes, 
because  I want  to  learn  about  many  Gods,  and  to  wear 
collar.”  It  will  be  perceived  that  thus  far  she  had  only 
a vague  idea  of  God,  but  that  her  desire  to  be  taught 
about  him  was  very  great. 

Feb.  28.  Laura  found  a copy  of  ‘ 6 The  Child’s  Second 
Book”  while  left  alone  on  Sunda}^,  and  was  much  pleased 
that  she  could  understand  a sentence  here  and  there. 
Many  words  which  were  new  to  her  she  had  carefully 
remembered,  and  so  brought  work  enough  for  three  or 
four  hours.  “ Wave,  prevent,  hollow,”  she  understood 
readily,  and  applied  the  latter  to  a defective  tooth. 
“ Cape,  point,  valleys,  plains,  and  deluge  ” next  occu- 
pied attention.  “ Drown  ” was  explained  “ to  go  under 
the  water,  and  not  come  up.”  “Would  they  die?” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


103 


was  her  question  at  once.  “ Floating,  preserved,”  and 
lastly  “ Mediterranean  Sea,  Bhering’s,  Narragansett.” 
Told  her  she  would  know  all  about  these  last  when  we 
taught  her  geography.  “ Will  that  be  very  soon?” 
Should  we  not  think  that  a bright  child  with  all  her 
senses  had  learned  a hard  lesson  if  she  had  committed 
to  memory  such  a list  of  words,  and  then  had  learned 
to  spell  them  all  correctly  ? This  was  just  what  Laura 
had  done  in  that  hour,  when  left  by  herself. 

March  5.  She  wished  me  to  tell  her  about  yarn. 
Began  with  the  sheep,  shearing  it,  etc.  When  I got  as 
far  as  the  carding  she  made  the  motion  for  it,  and  said, 
“I  have  seen  my  mother.”  Found  she  was  familiar 
also  with  the  process  of  spinning.  Talked  of  all  the 
things  in  the  room  made  of  wool.  She  said,  u Silk- 
worms make  something,  what  is  it?”  Taught  her  co- 
coon, but  reserved  the  story  of  silk  for  another  lesson. 
She  had  been  shown  a pod  with  cotton  and  remembered 
that  the  cotton  was  made  from  that. 

March  7.  Yesterday,  when  reading,  she  found  the 
word  “ harmony,”  and  ran  to  Miss  J.  and  said,  “ My 
mother  is  in  book  ; it  must  be  Harmony  Bridgman,  man 
did  not  know.” 

March  9.  To  show  me  that  she  remembered  and 
could  apply  one  of  the  “ new  words”  of  yesterday’s 
lesson  she  said,  on  first  seeing  me  this  morning,  “ J.’s 
hand  is  instrument  to  pat  with.”  During  the  past  week 
she  has  said  several  times  when  checked  for  making 
noises,  “I  thought  you  could  not  hear,”  and  instances 
of  this  kind  have  led  us  to  think  that  she  imagined  she 
did  nothing  wrong,  provided  she  concealed  it.  To-day 
taught  her  the  word  “ deceive,”  and  told  her  it  is  to  do 


104 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


things  when  J.  is  not  here  that  you  would  not  do  when 
she  is  here.  Then  gave  her  several  instances  of  decep- 
tion which  she  had  used  during  the  last  week,  all  very 
slight  in  themselves,  but  which  would  fairly  come  under 
that  head,  and  thought  she  began  to  understand  it. 
She  said, 4 4 1 would  not  like  to  have  J.  know,  and  I would 
not  like  to  have  Doctor  know ; he  must  make  me  know ; 
I would  be  very  sad  to  have  any  one  tell  Doctor  because 
he  would  blame,  or  scold  me.”  Told  her  if  she  did  not 
do  wrong  no  one  would  have  to  tell  him,  and  she  showed 
that  she  fully  understood  that  wrong  intent  was  neces- 
sary to  make  the  action  wrong  by  remarking,  44 1 would 
tell  Doctor ; if  I did  not  mean , he  would  not  blame  me.” 
She  has  not  yet  corrected  the  impression  that  the  error 
lies  in  failing  to  conceal  the  crime,  rather  than  in  its  com- 
mission. The  next  day,  when  sent  for  her  lunch,  she 
found  the  servant  absent,  and  feeling  irritated,  took 
the  key  from  the  door  to  prevent  Miss  J.  from  pass- 
ing through.  After  talking  about  it,  she  said,  44 1 knew 
it  was  wrong ; was  it  deceive  ? ” Told  her  no,  and  was 
about  to  explain  further  when  she  said,  4 ‘If  I do  not 
want  J.  to  know  that  I took  key,  it  is  deceive.”  Told 
her  that  to  deceive  was  a little  lie ; that  she  did  not  tell 
large  lies,  but  in  this  way  she  could  tell  many  little 
lies,  and  it  was  very,  very  wrong.  She  then  gave  a 
minute  description  of  the  first  time  she  attempted  to 
disobey  me,  when  I was  giving  her  a lesson.  Told  her 
I had  nearly  forgotten  all  about  it,  and  she  said,  44  You 
are  very  forgetful,”  — the  first  time  I had  known  her  to 
use  this  expression. 

March  15.  Laura  was  in  excellent  spirits  this  morn- 
ing, for  she  was  expecting  Dr.  Howe  to  return  after  a 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


105 


long  absence  in  the  South.  She  asked,  “ Do  Doctor 
know  I can  smile  ? ” This  is  a word  she  has  learned 
since  he  went  awa}r,  and  she  seemed  to  think  he  could 
not  understand  it.  Among  the  words  she  talked  of  was 
“fault”;  she  wanted  to  know  its  meaning.  Told  her 
it  was  doing  wrong  ; she  said,  “ Fault  is  like  diameter 
— no,  crime.”  Accounted  for  the  mistake  as  I remem- 
bered that  I taught  her  both  words  at  the  same  time 
and  she  had  crossed  their  meaning.  Explained  that 
fault  was  a little  crime.  When  walking,  she  asked,  “ If 
the  bark  of  a tree,”  which  I laid  her  hand  upon,  “ was 
black,  because  if  it  was  white  it  would  get  dirty  ? ” 

March  17.  “New  words”  which  she  brought  to  the 
lesson  were,  “ Mentioned,  suit  of  clothes,  approached, 
arrived. ” Had  her  bring  me  the  book  in  which  she  had 
found  them,  and  read  a page  to  me,  to  see  if  she  got 
any  correct  idea  of  it  as  a whole.  As  I supposed,  she 
gave  only  a confused  mixture  of  words.  After  reading  it, 
she  said,  “ My  head  aches  to  think  of  many  words  ; do 
sheep’s  head  ache?”  Thoughts  of  animals,  and  their 
points  of  resemblance  to  man,  seem  to  be  always  in  her 
mind.  She  asked,  “Are  peaches  yellow  because  they 
would  be  dirty  if  white  ? and  are  shoes  dark  colored  ? ” 
(for  the  same  reason.)  She  has  lately  learned  the  divi- 
sion of  colors  into  dark  and  light. 

March  26.  Laura  just  recovering  from  measles. 
She  wanted  to  know  the  meaning  of  “ selfish.”  After  a 
long  talk  about  it,  she  thought  she  would  like  to  be  a 
little  selfish,  and  I did  not  succeed  in  changing  her 
opinion,  even  by  the  argument  which  generally  avails 
much,  that  ladies  do  not  love  selfish  girls,  and  she  would 
not  be  loved  when  she  grew  old  if  she  were  selfish. 


106 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


March  28.  Although  she  was  still  weak,  we  had  a 
pleasant  talk  to-day.  Perhaps,  as  in  the  case  of  most 
people,  her  sickness  has  made  her  think  of  home  and 
her  mother,  and  she  wanted  to  talk  to  me  of  old  times. 
Asked  me  the  names  of  spindle  and  reel  by  describing 
their  motions.  She  said,  “My  mother  had  a swift 
made  of  sticks  to  wind  yarn  on.”  She  laughed  heartily 
at  the  name  being  like  mine.  She  told  me  about  her 
mother’s  last  visit  to  her,  of  the  things  she  brought,  and 
ended  by  saying,  “I  think  I am  little  afraid  of  my 
father.”  As  he  had  been  the  one  to  correct  her  before 
she  was  taught  anything,  it  is  not  strange  she  should 
say  this.  She  speaks  of  him  with  affection  at  other 
times. 

March  30.  For  several  weeks  she  has  had  a habit  of 
pushing  the  blind  girls  away  when  she  meets  them,  if 
she  does  not  wish  to  speak  to  them.  As  it  seemed  to  be 
growing  into  a serious  matter,  both  for  herself  and  the 
blind  girls,  their  esteem  for  her  being  somewhat  lowered 
of  late,  decided  to  devote  an  hour  to  talking  about  it. 
When  she  understood  it  fully,  she  was  very  sad  and 
cried,  and  felt  it  very  much  when  I told  her  the  girls 
would  not  love  her,  and  why  they  all  loved  the  gentle 
Oliver.  When  it  was  proposed  that  she  go  and  tell 
Abby  she  was  sorry  that  she  pushed  her,  she  went  at 
once,  and  said,  u I shall  tell  her  I am  very  sad.” 

April  4.  Found  Laura  much  excited  over  something 
she  had  found  in  a book ; she  met  me  saying,  “Doctor 
wrote  in  book,  ‘ you  must  not  think  because  you  are 
blind.’  ” On  referring  to  it  I found  she  had  omitted  the 
conclusion  of  the  sentence,  which  was,  “ that  you  can- 
not learn  as  much  as  other  children.”  I failed  to  remove 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


107 


the  -wrong  impression  entirely,  and  presume  it  will  still 
trouble  her. 

This  is  one  of  her  greatest  difficulties  in  reading,  and 
it  seems  almost  impossible  to  teach  her  how  to  read 
properly,  i.  e.,  to  receive  the  ideas  as  a whole  instead  of 
detaching  sentences,  clauses,  or  even  words,  and  think- 
ing only  of  their  meaning  when  taken  separately,  and 
so  failing  to  get  the  true  sense. 

April  6.  The  experience  of  the  last  lesson  leads  me 
to  think  that  I cannot  better  spend  an  hour  with  her 
than  in  having  her  read  to  me  from  the  book  with  which 
she  has  been  amusing  herself.  “ I will  tell  you  about 
the  world,”  was  the  first  sentence,  and  she  stopped  to 
ask,  44  Who  is  I? ” Next  she  read,  4 4 It  is  round,”  and 
before  reading  44  like  an  orange,”  she  told  me,  u round 
like  a peppermint.”  The  whole  of  the  hour  was  occu- 
pied in  making  her  understand  the  difference  between 
the  shape  of  the  peppermint  and  the  orange. 

Dr.  Howe  came  into  the  room  while  she  was  having 
a lesson,  peeling  an  orange.  She  stopped  in  the  midst 
of  a sentence  to  say,  44  I smell  orange.”  We  can  see  a 
decided  improvement  in  her  sense  of  smell  since  last 
year,  but  she  has  never  noticed  any  perfume  so  quickly 
or  at  so  great  a distance  before. 

April  19.  44  Why  does  it  rain?”  44  To  make  all 

things  grow.”  44  What  are  all  things?”  Described 
the  planting  of  the  seed,  potatoes,  peas,  etc.,  and  told 
her  it  rained  to  make  them  grow,  just  as  she  put 
water  on  her  plant  in  the  pot  to  make  it  grow.  She 
led  me  to  it  to  show  me  its  growth,  and  found  hang- 
ing upon  it  a bunch  of  raisins,  which  Miss  J.  had 
put  there  as  a surprise.  At  first  she  thought  the 


108 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


plant  had  borne  fruit,  but  soon  discovered  the  joke  and 
enjoyed  it. 

April  21.  Lesson  on  the  yardstick;  learned  to 
measure  three  quarters,  half,  one  quarter,  and  was  very 
happy  in  applying  her  new  knowledge. 

April  25.  Another  example  of  her  difficult}7  in  read- 
ing. The  sentence  was,  “ The  deer  knows  this.’  The 
previous  sentence  was,  “ The  grass  grows  under  the 
snow.”  She  could  not  put  the  two  together  as  any 
other  child  would  readily  do,  but  asked,  with  a look 
of  great  surprise,  “ Can  the  deer  know  what  is  in  this 

book?” 

April  27.  When  returning  from  a walk  with  her,  I 
told  her  I could  see  the  windows  in  our  house.  She 
asked  at  once,  “ Can  you  see  my  Hanover’s  windows?  ” 
meaning  the  windows  in  her  father’s  house  in  Hanover, 
N.  H.  One  day  when  walking  on  our  piazza,  I said, 
“ I can  see  the  windows  in  the  houses  in  Boston,  and 
the  sun  shining  on  them  very  brightly  ” Another  day 
when  sitting  in  the  room  I told  her  I could  look  through 
our  window  and  see  the  windows  in  Boston.  She  said, 
“ Look  through  their  windows  and  tell  me  what  all  folks 
are  doing.” 

May  2.  The  dog  Marco  accompanied  us  in  our  walk 
to-day,  and  she  was  much  interested  in  asking  the 
extent  of  his  knowledge.  “ Can  Marco  hear  when  } ou 
say  Marco?”  Told  her  yes,  and  that  he  came  to  me. 

‘ Does  he  know  Doctor  ? ” “Yes.”  “ Will  you  say 
Doctor  to  him,  and  see  if  he  knows  ? ” Told  her  he  did 
not  know  when  I talked  about  Doctor,  but  when  he  saw 
him  he  knew  him.  This  was  a great  puzzle  to  her,  that 
he  should  know  his  own  name  and  not  Doctors,  and 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


ioy 


after  thinking  of  it  for  some  time  she  said  quite  impa* 
tiently,  u I will  ask  Doctor,  you  do  not  know.” 

May  3.  While  walking  to  the  Point  two  or  three 
cannon  were  fired  from  a vessel  near  the  Farm  School. 
At  each  report  she  said,  “I  hear;  it  is  cannon.” 
Thinking  she  might  describe  her  hearing  as  she  did  in 
case  of  the  piano,  I asked,  “ Do  you  hear  through  your 
feet  ? ” “ No,  when  it  is  ver}r  loud  I hear  in  m}T  ear.” 

May  8.  Laura’s  mind  has  been  entirely  occupied 
with  the  sick  horse.  She  wants  to  know  if  he  has 
medicine.  “Does  he  know  sick  or  better?  ” Told  her 
he  did  not  know  the  words,  sick  or  better,  but  he  knew 
when  he  felt  better.  She  asks  every  hour  what  they 
are  doing  for  him,  and  if  they  give  him  gruel.  When 
told  no,  she  said  I was  wrong,  that  horses  ate  meal  and 
water  and  that  was  gruel,  which  I did  not  dispute.  To- 
da}r  she  had  been  told  he  was  dead.  “ Why  did  not  I 
die  when  I was  very  sick  ? ” This  is  the  first  time  she 
has  alluded  to  her  own  death  in  conversation  with  me, 
and  now  she  looked  anxious  and  much  troubled.  “ Did 
horse  know  about  dead,  before  he  was  dead?”  Suc- 
ceeded in  diverting  her  attention,  and  she  was  very 
happy  for  a while.  One  extreme  of  feeling  is  often  fol- 
lowed, in  her  case,  by  the  other.  Asked  her  why  she 
laughed  so  much?  “ Because  I am  very  O.”  “ What 

is  O ? ” “ When  I am  very  happy  ; you  said  ladies  say 
0.  I am  very  O ! ” She  soon  returned  to  the  old  sub- 
ject and  said,  “ I cried  much  Friday  morning  because 
the  horse  was  worse,  and  I love  him  very  much,  he  is 
soft  and  gentle.” 

May  12.  Gave  her  a lesson  in  the  stable  ; examined 
the  harness,  saddle,  bit,  blinders,  and  reins,  sleigh-bells, 


110 


LAVRA  BRIDGMAN. 


collar,  stirrups.  Then  took  her  to  the  carriage,  and 
taught  her  the  name  of  many  of  its  parts,  and  the  use 
of  the  springs. 

May  13.  Laura  had  a lesson  in  multiplication,  and 
I told  her  to-morrow  I would  teach  her  to  divide.  She 
thought  I said  “ dive”  and  was  quite  troubled  about  it, 
but  when  she  found  it  was  divide  and  something  new  in 
arithmetic,  she  said,  u To-day,  not  to-morrow.” 

May  15.  Laura  asked  for  “poor  pork”  at  dinner 
to-day.  Found  she  wanted  lean  pork.  She  often  falls 
into  mistakes  in  words  by  false  analogies,  and  it  is  easy 
to  see  how  she  should  make  the  above  mistake.  One 
day  when  feeling  ill  she  said,  “ I am  very  strongless.” 
When  corrected  she  said,  “ You  say  restless,  when  I do 
not  sit  still,”  and  then  changed  her  sentence  to,  “I  am 
very  weakful.” 

May  17.  Laura  succeeded  in  dividing  252  by  6. 
Have  commenced  teaching  her  by  long  division,  think- 
ing it  less  puzzling  for  her  than  short.  Last  night,  in  my 
sleep,  I told  Laura  to  go  into  Miss  Jeannette’s  room. 
She  obeyed,  but  this  morning  severely  reprimanded  me, 
and  concluded  by  saying,  “ You  do  not  think  good  in 
your  sleep.” 

May  23.  I fear  that  Laura  attempted  to  deceive  me 
to-day  in  her  work.  At  ten  o’clock  I sent  her  to  knit. 
She  was  to  commence  a pitcher  (purse),  and  I told  her 
I wanted  she  should  knit  much.  At  twelve  I went  to 
give  her  a lesson  and  asked  her  how  much  she  had 
done.  She  said,  “ I have  done  handle  and  neck,”  chang- 
ing it  to  u and  almost  neck.”  Her  manner  was  pecul- 
iar, so  I asked  her  to  let  me  see  it ; she  hesitated,  but 
brought  it,  when  I found  instead  of  the  neck  being 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Ill 


almost  done,  it  was  not  yet  entirely  begun.  Told  her 
I would  not  give  her  a lesson  again  to-day,  but  she 
must  think  about  deceiving.  She  worked  steadily,  but 
did  not  seem  to  be  moved  by  this. 

May  24.  Her  mind  was  entirely  occupied  with  the 
wrong  of  yesterday.  She  asked,  44  Am  I wrong  many 
times  ? ” She  then  repeated  the  history  of  the  decep- 
tion and  said,  “I  felt  very  bad  yesterday, — bad  is 
sad.  I want  to  learn  to  be  good.”  Asked  if  she 
thought  she  would  be  sad  if  she  learned  to  be  good. 
44  I do  not  think  so.”  After  thinking  awhile,  she  said, 
44  I want  you  to  love  me  many  times,  much,”  and  burst 
into  tears.  It  was  some  time  before  she  became  com- 
posed, but  after  that  she  was  very  gentle. 

P.  M.  Walked  to  the  Point,  and  while  sitting  by 
the  water  she  said,  44  I was  very  silly  not  to  think  to 
wear  shawl.”  After  being  quiet  awhile,  she  said,  44  Be 
very  still,  something  in  my  right  foot  hears.”  Asked 
her  to  try  her  left  foot.  She  did  so,  but  said,  44  I can- 
not hear  good  with  my  left  ” 44  What  is  in  right  foot 

that  hears?”  Told  her  the  water  jarred  the  ground, 
and  she  felt  it  shake.  4 4 Who  put  jar  under  the  ground  ? ” 
She  had  seen  a jar  in  the  kitchen,  so  a long  explanation 
of  what  I intended  for  a simple  sentence  was  necessary. 

May  27.  Laura  has  been  told  often  that  she  must 
not  displace  things  in  the  parlor,  and  yet  the  figure  of  a 
monk  and  a little  dog  belonging  to  her  are  always  found 
turned  round  and  facing  the  wall.  To-day  I asked  an 
explanation,  and  the  reply  was,  44  To  have  them  see  the 
pictures  on  the  wall.” 

May  30.  Took  Laura  to  see  Jane  Damon.  This 
little  blind  girl  had  been  very  singularly  afflicted.  She 


112 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


had  passed  through  typhoid  fever,  hut  was  left  by  it 
with  hip-joint  disease,  and  while  in  the  hospital  for 
treatment,  took  the  small-pox.  Of  course  she  had 
drawn  largely  on  our  sympathies,  and  Laura  had  been 
greatly  interested  in  her,  but  had  not  seen  her  for 
months.  She  seemed  very  happy  and  kissed  her,  but 
in  an  instant  her  countenance  changed,  and  she  looked 
very  sad.  She  had  perceived  the  marks  of  small-pox 
on  her  face  and  hands  and  asked,  44  What  made  them?” 
Told  her  Jane  had  been  sick  with  small-pox.  “Not 
small-pox,”  she  said  earnestly,  44  it  is  much  pox.”  Next 
she  asked  her  to  walk,  saying  she  would  help  her.  She 
was  very  much  affected  when  she  found  she  could  not 
use  her  limb  at  all.  A little  while  after,  looking  much 
distressed,  she  said,  44 1 am  afraid  she  will  die,”  and 
showed  me  how  thin  her  hair  was,  and  all  the  marks  on 
her  face.  She  was  comforted  somewhat  when  told 
she  was  nearly  well  now.  Going  home,  she  said,  44 1 
feel  very  sad,  blood  does  not  run,  my  heart  beats  very 
slow.”  She  then  began  to  devise  ways  in  which  we 
could  all  make  Jane  happy.  I never  saw  Laura  so 
much  affected  as  when  she  discovered  Jane’s  condition. 

June  11.  Told  her  to-day  she  must  go  and  exercise 
in  the  hall,  supposing  it  would  be  a new  word  to  her. 
As  she  took  no  notice  of  it,  I asked  her,  4 4 What  is  exer- 
cise ? ” 44  To  run.”  44  Who  told  you  about  exercise  ? ” 

44  No  one.”  44  How  did  you  know  it  was  to  run?” 
44  Because  you  said  it  would  make  me  well.”  And  then 
she  tried  to  spell  it,  but  did  not  succeed  until  after  sev- 
eral trials.  It  is  the  first  time  I have  ever  known  her 
to  arrive  at  the  meaning  of  a word  in  this  way.  Having 
lost  my  paper  on  which  I was  taking  notes,  I asked 


LAVE  A BRIDGMAN. 


113 


her  to  find  it.  She  said,  laughing,  “I  felt  it  walk 
away,”  at  the  same  time  taking  it  from  her  shoe,  and 
enjoying  the  joke. 

June  14.  Gave  her  another  lesson  at  the  sea-shore. 
The  tide  had  brought  in  the  sea-weed,  and  it  was  all 
new  to  her.  That  it  should  grow  on  a stone,  puzzled 
her.  Next,  showed  her  some  with  little  bags  of  air, 
and  she  applied  her  new  word  44  elastic”  to  them,  and 
* could  feel  how  hard  the  sacks  were  when  full  of  air ; 
then  a species  with  three  lobes,  which  she  called  fingers. 
We  picked  up  some  that  had  a little  shell  attached,  and 
when  told  there  was  a fish  in  it,  her  questions  were 
numberless.  Some  of  them  were,  44  Why  does  fish  shut 
in  the  shell  ? ” meaning,  draw  himself  into  it.  4 4 Who 
gave  fish  shell  ? Will  he  live  in  my  hand  ? Why  not 
from  (out  of)  the  water?  Is  it  baby  fish?”  An  hour 
passed  quickly,  and  then  she  said,  4 4 1 think  Rogers  and 
Oliver  have  not  seen.”  So  giving  me  a small  stone 
with  sea  weed  attached,  and  taking  her  baby  fish,  and 
what  she  called  fingers  in  her  own  hand,  she  went  home 
to  teach  Oliver. 

June  17.  She  went  to  get  a chair  this  morning,  and 
finding  a large  basket  with  clothes  in  it,  stepped  into 
it.  Talked  to  her  some  time,  to  explain  the  harm  she 
might  do  to  both  basket  and  clean  clothes,  but  she  was 
disposed  to  excuse  herself,  saying,  44 1 was  blind,  and 
I did  not  know  the  basket  was  there,”  and  changed  the 
subject,  saying,  44  I saw  my  father’s  Jambs  in  basket, 
and  a blanket  over  them,  because  they  would  be  cold 
from  (out  of)  basket.  Were  they  wrong  to  be  in 
basket  ? ” She  showed  me  how  her  mother  placed  a 
chair  over  the  basket,  and  I told  her  it  was  to  keep  the 
8 


114 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


lambs  from  jumping  out.  44  Because  babies  would  be 
very  cold  ? ” Asked  her  if  her  mother  told  her  why  she 
put  the  chair  there.  44  No ; I could  not  talk  to  my 
mother,  and  I could  not  think  why  she  put  the  chair.” 
Here  was  another  case  of  her  thinking  before  she  had 
any  language. 

June  21.  Laura  ran  out  of  the  parlor  last  eve,  just 
as  a gentleman,  who  was  a phrenologist,  was  examining 
her  head ; when  asked  why  she  was  so  rude,  she  said 
indignantly,  44  Man  was  not  kind  to  me,  and  troubled 
me,  and  I did  not  like  to  have  him  put  his  hand  on  my 
head.”  She  discovered  that  the  fingers  of  her  left  hand 
were  not  so  pliable  as  those  of  the  right,  and  at  once 
gave  the  reason,  44  Left  hand  never  talks.” 

July  27.  Told  Laura  as  I was  going  with  her  to  the 
school-room  that  a spider  was  running  over  my  hand, 
and  had  made  a web  to  the  floor.  This  furnished  a 
subject  for  the  lesson.  After  describing  the  process  of 
spinning  the  web,  told  her  about  its  shape,  and  she 
turned  to  her  desk  to  find  4 4 The  Child’s  Book,”  which 
has  a plate  of  the  Planetary  System  in  raised  lines, 
thinking  from  my  description  of  the  web  that  this  must 
be  a picture  of  one.  As  usual,  she  had  many  questions 
about  spiders.  When  told  they  ate  flies,  she  asked, 
44  Do  large  spiders  eat  ten  flies?  Do  they  eat  them  to 
keep  them  from  getting  into  molasses  ? ” 

July  28.  Laura  met  me  to-day  with,  44 1 am  very 
neat  ” ; and  as  she  had  on  a clean  dress,  it  was  a good 
application  of  a new  word.  Then  she  put  out  her  foot, 
and  asked,  44  What  do  ladies  wear  on  their  feet?”  which 
was  a delicate  way  of  attracting  my  attention  to  some 
new  shoes. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


115 


Aug.  1.  Laura  was  disobedient  to  Miss  J.  this 
morning,  in  leaving  her  room  to  go  to  the  school-room, 
after  having  been  told  not  to  go  out.  She  thought  it  a 
sufficient  excuse  that  she  wanted  to  go  to  ask  Miss  W. 
to  tell  her  about  clams.  As  there  had  been  several 
cases  of  slight  errors  in  this  way,  I made  it  a subject 
for  conversation,  and  afterwards  asked  her  if  she  had 
done  right.  She  said,  “ No,  I did  not  obey  J.”  It 
usually  takes  a very  short  time  for  her  to  see  the 
error. 

Aug.  19.  She  asked  where  I would  go  in  vacation, 
and  when  told  to  Nantucket,  she  tried  several  times  to 
spell  it,  and  said,  u It  is  very  hard.”  I cannot  under- 
stand why  she  always  finds  so  much  difficulty  with  this 
name,  for  she  learns  those  which  appear  to  me  much  more 
difficult,  such  as  Philadelphia,  with  very  slight  effort, 
while  every  time  Nantucket  occurs,  she  has  to  learn  to 
spell  it  anew. 


116 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

One  of  the  blind  boys  died,  and  we  give  Dr. 
Howe’s  account  * of  his  conversation  with  Laura  : 

44  One  of  our  pupils  died,  after  a severe  illness,  which 
caused  much  anxiety  in  our  household.  Laura,  of 
course,  knew  of  it,  and  her  inquiries  after  him  were 
as-  frequent  and  as  correct  as  those  of  any  one.  After 
his  death  I proceeded  to  break  it  to  her.  I asked 
her  if  she  knew  that  little  Orrin  was  very  sick.  She 
said,  ‘Yes.’  4 He  was  very  ill  yesterday  forenoon/ 
said  I,  4 and  I knew  he  could  not  live  long.’  At  this 
she  looked  much  distressed,  and  seemed  to  ponder 
upon  it  deeply.  I paused  awhile,  and  then  told  her 
that  4 Orrin  died  last  night.’  At  the  word  died  she 
seemed  to  shrink  within  herself,  there  was  a contrac- 
tion of  the  hands,  a - half-spasm,  and  her  counte- 
nance indicated  not  exactly  grief,  but  rather  pain  and 
amazement,  her  lips  quivered,  and  then  she  seemed 
about  to  cry,  but  restrained  her  tears.  She  had 
known  something  of  death  before,  she  had  lost  friends, 
and  she  knew  about  dead  animals,  but  this  was  the 
only  case  which  had  occurred  in  the  house.  She  asked 
about  death,  and  I said,  4 When  you  are  asleep 
does  your  body  feel?’  4 No,  if  I am  very  asleep.’ 


* Eleventh  Report  to  the  Trustees. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


117 


‘Why?’  4 1 do  not  know.*  I tried  to  explain,  and 
used  the  word  soul.  She  said,  4 What  is  soul  ? ^ 

4 That  which  thinks,  and  feels,  and  hopes,  and  loves,’ 
said  I,  to  which  she  added  interrogatively , 4 And 
aches?’  Here  I was  perplexed  at  the  threshold  by 
her  inquiring  spirit,  seizing  upon  and  confounding, 
material  and  immaterial  processes.  I tried  to  explain 
to  her  that  any  injury  of  the  body  was  perceived  by 
the  soul ; but  I was  clearly  beyond  her  depth,  although 
she  was  all  eagerness  to  go  on.  I think  I made  her  com- 
prehend the  difference  between  material  and  spiritual 
operations.  After  a while,  she  asked,  4 Where  is 
Orrin’s  think?  ’ 4 It  has  left  his  body  and  gone  away.’ 

‘Where?’  4 To  God  in  heaven.’  ‘Where,  up?’ 
(pointing  up.)  4 Yes.’  4 Will  it  comeback?  4 No. 
‘Why?’  said  she.  4 Because  his  body  was  very  sick 
and  died,  and  soul  cannot  stay  in  a dead  body.  After 
a minute  she,  said,  4 Is  breath  dead?  Is  blood  dead? 
Your  horse  died,  where  is  his  soul?  ’ I was  obliged  to 
give  the  very  unsatisfactory  answer,  that  animals  have 
no  souls.  She  said,  4 Cat  does  kill  a mouse,  why? 
has  she  got  soul?’  Answer:  ‘Animals  do  not  know 
about  souls,  they  do  not  think  like  us.  At  this 
moment  a fly  alighted  upon  her  hand,  and  she  said, 
‘Have  flies  souls?’  I said,  4 No.’  4 Why  did  not 
God  give  them  souls?’  Alas  for  the  poverty  of  her 
language ! I could  hardly  make  her  understand  how 
much  of  life  and  happiness  God  bestows  even  upon  a 
little  fly. 

“Soon  she  said,  ‘Can  God  see,  has  he  eyes.  I 
replied  by  asking  her,  4 Can  you  see  your  mother  in 
Hanover?’  4 No.’  4 But,’  said  I,  ‘you  can  see 


118 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her  n a your  mind,  you  can  think  about  her,  and  love 
her.;  ‘ Yes,*  said  she.  ‘ So,’  replied  I,  ‘ God  can 
see  you  and  all  people  and  know  all  they  do,  and  He 
thinks  about  them,  and  loves  them,  and  He  will  love 
you  and  all  people  if  they  are  gentle  and  kind  and 
good,  and  love  one  another/  ‘Can  He  be  angry?’ 
said  she.  ‘No,  He  can  be  sorry,  because  he  loves  all 
folks,  and  grieves  when  they  do  wrong/  ‘ Can  He 
cry?’  saia  she.  ‘No.  The  body  cries  because  the 
soul  is  sad,  but  God  has  no  body/  I then  tried  to 
make  her  think  of  her  spiritual  existence  as  separate 
from  her  bodily  one ; but  she  seemed  to  dislike  to  do 
so,  and  said  eagerly,  ‘ I shall  not  die/  Some  would 
have  said  she  referred  to  her  soul,  but  she  did  not ; she 
was  shrinking  at  the  thought  of  physical  death,  and  I 
turned  the  conversation.  I could  not  have  the  heart  to 
give  the  poor  child  the  baneful  knowledge  before  I had 
prepared  the  antidote.  It  seems  to  me  that  she  needs  not 
the  fear  of  death  to  keep  her  in  the  path  of  goodness/’ 

After  reporting  this  conversation  Dr.  Howe 
adds : — 

“ It  would  have  been  exceedingly  gratifying  to  be 
able  to  announce  a more  perfect  development  of  those 
moral  qualities  on  which  true  religion  is  founded  ; but  it 
was  hardly  to  have  been  expected  ; those  qualities  are 
among  the  last  to  develop  themselves,  and  are  of  tardy 
growth  ; we  could  have  forced  them  out  perhaps  by  arti- 
ficial culture  but  that  would  have  been  to  have  obtained 
a hot-house  plant  instead  of  the  simple  and  natural  one 
that  is  every  day  putting  forth  new  beauties  to  our  sight. 
It  is  but  thirteen  years  since  Laura  was  born  ; she  has 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


119 


hardly  lived  half  that  number,  yet  in  that  time  what  an 
important  mission  has  she  fulfilled  ! How  much  has  she 
done  for  herself,  how  much  has  she  taught  others  ! 
Deprived  of  most  of  the  varied  stimuli  furnished  by 
the  senses,  and  fed  by  the  scantiest  crumbs  of  knowl- 
edge, her  soul  has  nevertheless  put  forth  the  buds  of 
the  brightest  virtues,  and  gives  indication  of  its  pure 
origin  and  its  high  destination.” 

Having  given  Dr.  Howe’s  account,  and  his 
views  of  her  present  mental  condition,  I quote 
from  my  journal  a report  of  conversations  with 
different  members  of  the  family  : — 

When  I returned  from  church  found  Laura  in  a very 
excited  state,  and  as  no  notes  had  been  taken  of  her 
conversation  with  Miss  J.  and  Miss  Rogers,  I collected 
it  from  them,  and  also  noted  that  with  myself.  She 
came  up  from  the  Doctor’s  room  saying,  1 4 Orrin  has 
gone  to  God.  Soul  has  gone.  God  gives  all  folks,  and 
men,  and  boys,  and  babies,  souls.  God  is  very  kind.” 
She  spoke  of  the  body,  and  Miss  Rogers  asked  her  why 
she  did  not  say  Orrin.  “Because  Orrin  has  gone  to 
God.”  When  she  met  me  in  the  afternoon,  she  said, 

4 4 Did  you  know  Orrin  was  dead  ? Are  you  glad  ? ” 
Turning  to  Miss  J.  44  Do  God  love  Orrin?  Can  Orrin 
move  with  God?”  Then  drawing  back  a little,  44  I 
want  to  be  with  God.  God  is  very  good  to  give  us  all 
souls.  God  would  be  sad  Orrin’s  body  is  dead.  Does 
God  know  all  names  and  things?”  44  Yes,  and  Doc- 
tor knows  all  things.  God  would  think  that  Orrin’s 
soul  came  from  body,  — so  il  came  very  quick  from  body 


120 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


last  night.  Why  did  he  die?  Why  did  soul  go  very 
quick?  Was  he  any  well  with  God  last  night ? ” Her 
idea  in  this  question  evidently  was,  whether  the  soul, 
having  just  left  the  sick  body,  began  to  be  well  with 
God.  u Can  he  talk?  Doctor  knows  about  heaven  ; I 
shall  know  all  things  when  Ldie.”  She  then  made  a sign 
of  drawing  out  something  from  herself  which  was  very 
thin,  and  would  pass  through  her  fingers,  and  said, 
u Souls  are  white.  Can  baby  know  God?  I think  I 
was  with  God  in  Hanover,  and  God  made  new  Laura.” 
This  was  an  allusion  to  her  birth.  “■  My  doll  can  see 
body,  but  not  soul.  Flies  and  hoppers  have  not  souls. 
Shall  I go  up  when  I die  ? Where  is  God  ? Are  clouds 
in  heaven  ? ” During  the  week  she  often  recurred  to  the 
conversation  with  Doctor,  and  was  much  impressed  with 
the  thought,  “ God  knows  m3’  thoughts,  and  wrong,  and 
does  not  love  bad.”  One  day  she  said,  “ Do  you  want 
to  see  Orrin  ? Why  does  not  God  take  us  ? Does  he  not 
want  you  and  me  ? Why  did  God  kill  Orrin  ? ” 

Nov.  15.  Laura  met  a very  old  lady,  and  asked, 
when  she  took  her  hand,  “ Why  did  God  make  her  skin 

ugly?” 

Nov.  16.  Walked  with  Laura.  She  wore  a bonnet 
which  Miss  J.  had  given  her,  and  said,  “ I think  she  is 
very  kind.  What  could  I do  if  I had  no  friends  to  give 
me  things?”  To  deepen  this  impression,  told  her  a 
story  of  a poor  little  girl  who  had  no  father  or  mother, 
and  no  home  to  live  in,  and  who  slept  in  barns.  She 
was  much  interested  and  deeply  moved  by  it. 

Dec.  19.  For  several  months  I have  been  unable, 
from  pressure  of  other  duties,  to  devote  much  time  to 
Laura,  but  to-day’  have  returned  to  the  pleasant  work, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


121 


Asked  her  why  she  did  not  read  now  in  her  book.  “ I 
never  read  now,  I do  not  know  what  the  words  mean.” 
Proposed  her  reading  to  me,  but  she  asked  that  she 
might  tell  me  about  an  elephant.  Told  her  a story  of 
little  boy  who  troubled  one,  and  how  he  retaliated.  I 
chanced  to  say  he  thought.  She  did  not  interrupt  the 
stoiy,  but  at  its  close  said,  u Can  elephants  think?” 

Dec.  21 , 1842.  Laura  announced  her  birthday. 
“ I am  thirteen  now  : am  I taller?  ” 

A very  good  gymnasium  had  been  fitted  up  for 
the  use  of  the  blind  pupils,  and  it  was  thought 
best  for  Laura  to  join  the  girls  at  their  hour. 
She  was  not  much  pleased  with  it.  As  she  could 
not  hear  the  orders  and  make  the  movements  in 
concert  as  those  only  blind  could,  it  was  not 
strange  that  some  of  the  charm  of  it  was  lost  on 
her. 

She  visited  a museum  yesterday,  and  I asked  her  to 
tell  me  what  she  saw.  1 ‘ I saw  crocodile  and  elephant’s 
bone  of  head  ; why  was  his  eye  very  large  ? I saw  ele- 
phant’s trunk  and  camel’s  legs ; they  were  very  high. 
I could  not  reach  his  head,  and  I stood  on  stool,  and 
could  not  reach.  Why  cannot  he  put  his  head  to  the 
ground  ? I saw  bear  ; what  does  he  do  ? ” After  think- 
ing awhile  she  said,  “Why  did  God  make  proboscis, 
and  why  does  the  elephant  not  have  teeth  and  lips  like 
us?” 

She  wanted  to  have  me  tell  her  about  the  cages  in 
which  bears  were  kept.  After  paying  close  attention, 
she  said,  “ I will  get  something  to  show  you  if  it  is 


122 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


like.”  She  went  to  the  apparatus  case,  and  took  the 
little  carriage  from  the  inclined  plane,  to  illustrate  her 
idea  of  a cage  on  wheels.  To  give  her  a more  correct 
one  I took  the  wire  frame  used  with  the  air  pump,  and 
put  that  on  wheels.  She  understood  it  at  once,  but 
asked,  “ Why  do  not  bears  have  cages  made  of  wood  ? ” 
“They  could  not  have  air  enough  to  breathe.”  She 
then  tried  to  see  if  she^could  feel  the  air  passing  through 
$he  wire.  “I  sit  in  my  closet  many  days,  and  I can 
breathe,  and  that  is  wood.”  “ But  you  could  not 
breathe  if  shut  up  in  your  desk  ” ; and  this  she  accepted. 
As  her  mind  develops  she  is  more  inclined  to  argue, 
and  will  not  accept  an  assertion  as  readily.  She  told 
me  that  bears  had  glass  eyes,  and  insisted  upon  it.  “I 
saw  dead  bear’s  glass  eyes  yesterday.” 

Before  closing  the  account  of  the  progress  made 
for  the  year  1842,  we  quote  again  from  the  report 
of  Dr.  Howe  : — * 

“ Her  health  has  been  excellent  during  the  year,  un- 
interrupted, indeed,  by  a single  day’s  illness.  Several 
medical  gentlemen  have  expressed  their  fears  that  the 
continual  mental  excitement  which  she  manifests,  and 
the  restless  activity  of  her  mind,  must  affect  her  health, 
and  perhaps  endanger  the  soundness  of  her  mental 
faculties ; but  any  such  tendency  has  been  effectually 
counteracted  by  causing  her  to  practise  calisthenic 
exercises,  and  to  take  long  walks  daily  in  the  open 
air,  which  on  some  days  extend  to  six  miles.  Besides, 
she  has  a safeguard  in  the  nature  of  her  emotions, 


* Eleventh  Annual  Report  to  Trustees. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


123 


which  are  always  joyful,  always  pleasant  and  hopeful ; 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  glad  flow  of  spirits  which 
she  constantly  enjoys  contributes  not  only  to  her  physi- 
cal health,  but  to  the  development  of  her  mind. 

“ Laura  generally  appears,  by  the  quickness  of  her 
motives  and  the  eagerness  of  her  gestures,  to  be  in  a 
state  of  mind  which  in  another  would  be  called  unnatu- 
ral excitement.  Her  spirit,  apparently  impatient  of  its 
narrow  bounds,  is,  as  it  were,  continually  pressing 
against  the  bars  of  its  cage,  and  struggling,  if  not  to 
escape,  at  least  to  obtain  more  of  the  sights  and  sounds 
of  the  outer  world.  The  signs  by  which  she  expresses 
her  ideas  are  slow  and  tedious ; her  thoughts  outstrip 
their  tardy  vehicle,  and  fly  forward  to  the  goal ; she 
evidently  feels  desirous  of  talking  faster  than  she  can, 
and  she  loves  best  to  converse  with  those  who  can 
interpret  the  motion  of  her  fingers  when  they  are  so 
rapid  as  to  be  unintelligible  to  a common  eye.  But 
with  all  this  activity  of  the  mental  machinery,  there  is 
none  of  the  wear  and  tear  produced  by  the  grit  of  dis- 
content ; everything  is  made  smooth  by  the  oil  of  glad- 
ness. She  rises  uncalled  at  an  early  hour  ; she  begins 
the  day  as  merrily  as  the  lark ; she  is  laughing  as  she 
attires  herself  and  braids  her  hair,  and  comes  dancing 
out  of  her  chamber  as  though  every  morn  were  that  of 
a gala  day ; a smile  and  a sign  of  recognition  greet 
every  one  she  meets  ; kisses  and  caresses  are  bestowed 
upon  her  friends  and  her  teachers ; she  goes  to  her 
lesson,  but  knows  not  the  word  task;  she  gayly  assists 
others  in  what  they  call  housework,  but  which  she 
deems  play ; she  is  delighted  with  society,  and  clings 
to  others  as  though  she  would  grow  to  them ; yet  she  is 


124 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


happy  when  sitting  alone,  and  smiles  and  laughs  as  the 
varying  current  of  pleasant  thoughts  passes  through 
her  mind ; and  when  she  walks  out  into  the  field  she 
greets  her  mother  Nature,  whose  smiles  she  cannot  see, 
whose  music  she  cannot  hear,  with  a joyful  heart  and  a 
glad  countenance ; in  a word,  her  whole  life  is  like  a 
hymn  of  gratitude  and  thanksgiving. 

u I know  that  this  may  he  deemed  extravagant,  and 
by  some  considered  as  the  partial  description  of  a fond 
friend,  but  it  is  not  so ; and  fortunately  for  others, 
particularly  because  this  lesson  of  contentment  should 
not  be  lost  upon  the  repining  and  ungrateful,  she  is  a 
lamp  set  upon  a hill  whose  light  cannot  be  hid.  She  is 
seen  and  known  of  many,  and  those  who  know  her  best 
will  testify  most  warmly  in  her  favor. 

“ The  general  course  of  instruction  pursued  during 
the  past  year,  corresponding  as  it  does  with  that  detailed 
in  former  reports,  needs  not  to  be  here  repeated  for  the 
information  of  those  to  whom  this  report  is  immediate!}" 
addressed;  but  as  great  public  interest  is  excited  in 
this  case,  and  as  inquiries  are  continually  made  respect- 
ing the  processes  by  which  instruction  is  conveyed  to 
her  mind,  it  may  be  well  to  explain  some  of  them,  even 
at  the  risk  of  repetition,  and  of  saying  what  may  seem 
to  those  familiar  with  the  theory  of  teaching  the  deaf 
and  dumb  not  only  trite  but  worthless. 

“ Some  kind  of  language  seems  necessary  for  ever}' 
human  being ; the  cravings  of  the  social  nature  are 
loud  and  constant,  and  cannot  be  gratified  except  by 
some  medium  of  communication  for  the  feelings.  The 
intellect  cannot  be  developed  unless  all  the  modifications 
of  thought  have  some  sign  even  by  which  they  can  be 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


125 


recalled.  Hence  men  are  compelled  by  a kind  of  inward 
force  to  form  languages  ; and  they  do  form  them  under 
all  and  every  circumstance.  The  social  organ  presents 
the  natural  and  most  perfect  medium  through  which,  by 
attaching  a meaning  to  every  modulation  of  voice,  a 
perfect  system  of  communication  is  kept  up.  The  ques- 
tion whether  a people  could  exist  without  language, 
would  be  about  as  reasonable  as  it  would  be  to  ask 
whether  they  could  exist  without  hands  ; it  is  as  natural 
for  men  to  converse  as  it  is  for  them  to  eat ; if  they  can- 
not speak,  they  will  converse  by  signs,  as,  if  they  had 
no  hands,  they  would  feed  themselves  with  their  toes. 
Children  then,  prompted  by  nature,  associate  their 
thoughts  with  audible  words,  and  learn  language  with- 
out any  special  instructions.  If  you  make  the  sound, 
represented  by  the  letters  a-p-p-l-e,  when  you  hold  up 
the  fruit  to  a child,  he  naturally  associates  that  sound 
with  it,  and  will  imitate  the  sound,  even  without  your 
trying  to  make  him  do  so  ; if  the  child  be  deaf  so  that 
he  cannot  hear  the  word  which  you  speak,  of  course  he 
cannot  imitate  it,  and  as  such,  of  course,  he  must  be 
forever  dumb  But  the  desire  to  associate  the  thing 
with  a sign  still  remains,  and  he  has  the  same  power  of 
imitation  as  others,  except  in  regard  to  words ; if, 
therefore,  you  make  a visible  sign  when  you  show  him 
the  apple,  as  by  doubling  the  fist,  the  fist  afterwards 
becomes  to  him  the  name  or  sign  for  the  apple.  But 
suppose  the  child  cannot  see  the  apple,  suppose  he  be 
blind  as  well  as  deaf.  What  then  ? He  has  the  same 
intellectual  nature.  Put  the  apple  in  his  hand,  let  him 
feel  it,  smell  it,  taste  it ; put  your  clinched  hand  in  his 
at  the  same  time,  and  several  times,  until  he  associates 


126 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


this  sign  with  the  thing,  and  when  he  wishes  for  the 
fruit  he  will  hold  up  his  little  fist  and  delight  your  heart 
by  this  sign,  which  is  just  as  much  a word  as  though  he 
had  said  4 apple  ’ out  aloud. 

“Reasoning  in  this  way,  1 undertook  the  task  of 
instructing  Laura  Bridgman,  and  the  result  has  been 
what  it  will  ever  be  where  nature  is  followed  as  our 
guide. 

4 ‘ This  simple  process  is  readily  understood  ; but  sim- 
ple signs  and  names  of  objects  being  easy  enough,  it  is 
often  asked,  How  can  a knowledge  of  qualities  which 
have  no  positive  existence  be  communicated?  Just  as 
easily,  and  just  as  they  are  taught  to  common  children  ; 
when  a child  bites  a sweet  apple  or  a sour  one,  he  per- 
ceives the  difference  of  taste ; he  hears  you  use  one 
sound,  sweet , when  you  taste  the  one  ; another  sound, 
sour,  when  you  taste  the  other.  These  sounds  are  asso- 
ciated in  his  mind  with  those  qualities.  The  deaf  child 
sees  the  pucker  of  your  lips  or  some  grimace  when  you 
taste  the  sour  one,  and  that  grimace  perhaps,  is  seized 
upon  by  him  for  a sign  or  a name  for  sour;  and  so  with 
other  physical  qualities.  The  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind 
child  cannot  hear  your  sound,  cannot  see  your  grimace  ; 
yet  he  perceives  the  quality  of  sweetness,  and  if  you 
take  pains  to  make  some  peculiar  sign  two  or  three 
times,  when  the  quality  is  perceived,  he  will  asso- 
ciate that  sign  with  the  quality  and  have  a name  for  it. 

44  It  will  be  said  that  the  qualities  have  no  existence, 
being  mere  abstractions,  and  that  when  we  say  ‘ sweet 
apple  * the  child  will  think  it  is  a compound  name  for 
the  individual  apple,  or  if  he  does  not  do  this,  that  he 
cannot  know  whether  by  the  word  ‘sweet’  we  mean 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


127 


the  quality  of  1 sweetness  * or  the  quality  of  4 sound- 
ness.’ This  is  true  ; at  first  the  child  does  not  know  to 
what  the  sound  ‘ sweet’  refers  ; he  may  misuse  it  often, 
but  by  imitation,  by  observation,  he  at  last  gets  it 
right,  and  applies  the  word  ‘ sweet  ’ to  everything  whose 
qualities  revive  the  same  sensation  as  the  sweet  apple 
did  ; he  then  uses  the  word  ‘ sweet  ’ in  the  abstract,  not 
as  a parrot,  but  understanding^,  simply  because  the 
parrot  has  not  the  mental  organization  which  fits  it  to 
understand  qualities,  and  the  child  has.  Now  the 
transition  from  physical  to  mental  qualities  is  very  easy  ; 
the  child  has  dormant  within  his  bosom  every  mental 
quality  that  the  man  has  ; every  emotion  and  every  pas- 
sion has  its  natural  language,  and  it  is  a law  of  nature 
that  the  exhibition  of  this  natural  language  calls  into 
activity  the  like  mental  quality  in  the  beholder.  The 
difference  between  joy  and  sorrow,  between  a smile  and 
a frown,  is  just  as  cognizable  by  a child  as  the  difference 
between  a sweet  apple  and  a sour  one  ; and  through  the 
same  mental  process  by  which  a mute  attaches  signs  to 
the  physical  quality,  he  may  (with  a little  more  pains) 
be  made  to  attach  them  to  the  moral  qualities. 

“Much  surprise  has  been  expressed  by  some  who  are 
conversant  with  the  difficulties  of  the  teaching,  etc.,  of 
mutes,  that  Laura  should  have  attained  the  use  of  verbs 
without  more  special  instruction.  It  may  be  said  in 
reply  that  no  minute  and  perfect  account  of  the  various 
steps  in  the  process  of  her  instruction  has  ever  yet  been 
published  ; and  that  moreover  the  difficulties  in  the  use 
of  the  verbs  are  in  reality  much  less  than  is  usually 
supposed. 

As  soon  as  a child  has  learned  the  use  of  a noun,  as 


128 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


4 apple,’  and  of  one  or  two  signs  of  qualities,  as  4 sour’ 
and  4 sweet,’  he  begins  to  use  them,  he  holds  up  the 
fruit  and  lisps  out,  4 apple  sour,’  or  ‘apple  sweet’ ; he 
has  not  been  taught  a verb,  and  yet  he  uses  one;  he 
asserts  the  one  apple  to  be  sweet  the  other  to  be  sour ; 
he  in  reality  says  mentally,  4 apple  is  sweet  apple,’  or 
4 apple  is  sour  apple  ’ ; and  in  a little  while  he  catches  by 
the  ear  an  audible  sign, — the  word  is, — and  puts  it  in 
where  he  before  used  only  a sign,  or  meant  to  use  one. 
Just  so  with  the  deaf-mute  ; when  he  has  learned  a noun 
and  an  adjective  he  uses  them  by  the  help  of  a verb,  or 
some  mark  of  assertion,  and  you  have  only  to  give  him 
some  sign,  which  he  will  adopt  just  as  readily  as  the 
speaking  child,  by  mere  imitation  and  without  any  pro- 
cess of  ratiocination.  We  give  too  narrow  a definition 
when  we  say  a verb  is  a word,  etc. 

44  But  it  would  swell  the  report  to  a volume  should  I 
pursue  the  same  train  of  remarks  with  regard  to  the 
different  parts  of  speech.  Indeed  I should  hardly  have 
hazarded  it  here,  had  it  not  been  for  assertions,  emanat- 
ing from  respectable  sources,  that  this  child  must  have 
some  vision  or  hearing,  or  some  remembrance  of  oral 
language,  since  she  has  easily  attained  the  use  of  the 
most  difficult  parts  of  speech,  which  cost  so  much  labor 
to  those  merely  deaf  and  dumb.  It  is  needless  to  repeat 
what  is  so  well  known  to  hundreds,  that  she  is  totally 
deaf  and  blind,  and  has  been  so  from  her  tender 
infancy. 

4 4 It  will  be  observed  by  those  who  have  had  the 
patience  to  read  the  above  remarks  that  to  the  child 
with  all  his  senses,  the  acquisition  of  a language,  which 
has  already  been  perfected  by  the  labor  of  many  succes- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


129 


sive  generations,  is  an  easy  and  pleasant  task,  and 
accomplished  without  any  teacher ; that  for  the  deaf- 
mute  the  difficulty  is  increased  a thousand-fold  ; that 
for  the  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind,  it  is  immeasurably 
greater  still ; and  that  for  poor  Laura,  Bridgman  it  is 
even  more  increased  by  the  fact  that  she  has  not  that 
acuteness  of  smell  and  taste  which  usually  aid  those 
in  her  situation,  and  that  she  relies  upon  touch  alone. 
Nevertheless,  she  goes  on,  joyously  using  her  single 
small  talent,  patiently  piling  up  her  little  heap  of 
knowledge,  and  rejoicing  as  much  over  it  as  if  it  were  a 
pyramid.” 

Dr.  Howe’s  views  with  regard  to  her  religious 
training,  as  given  in  the  same  report,  are  as  fol- 
lows : — 

‘ 4 The  various  attempts  which  I have  made  during  the 
year  to  lead  her  thoughts  to  G-od  and  spiritual  affairs 
have  been,  for  the  most  part,  forced  upon  me  by  her 
questions,  which  I am  sure  were  prompted  by  expres- 
sions dropped  carelessly  by  others,  as  God,  heaven, 
soul,  etc.,  and  about  which  she  would  afterwards  ask 
me.  Whenever  I have  deliberately  entered  upon  them, 
I have  done  so  with  caution,  and  always  felt  obliged  by 
a sense  of  duty  to  the  child  to  make  the  conversation 
as  short  as  possible.  The  most  painful  part  of  one’s 
duty  is  often  where  an  honest  conviction  forces  one  to 
pursue  a line  of  conduct  diametrically  opposite  to  that 
recommended  by  those  for  whose  superior  talents  and 
wisdom  one  has  the  greatest  respect.  It  is  said  con- 
tinually that  this  child  should  be  instructed  in  the 
doctrines  of  revealed  religion  ; and  some  even  seem  to 
9 


130 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


imagine  her  eternal  welfare  will  be  perilled  by  her 
remaining  in  ignorance  of  religious  truths.  I am  aware 
of  the  high  responsibilit}"  of  the  charge  of  a soul,  and 
the  mother  who  bore  her  can  hardly  feel  a deeper  inter- 
est in  Laura’s  welfare  than  I do  ; but  that  very  sense  of 
responsibility  to  God,  and  that  love  I bear  to  the  child, 
forces  me,  after  seeking  for  all  light  from  others,  finally 
to  rely  upon  my  own  judgment.  It  is  not  to  be  doubted 
that  she  could  be  taught  any  dogma  or  creed,  and  be 
made  to  give  as  edifying  answers  as  are  recorded  of 
many  other  wonderful  children  to  questions  on  spiritual 
subjects.  But  as  I can  see  no  necessary  connection 
between  a moral  and  religious  life  and  the  intellectual 
perception  of  a particular  truth,  or  belief  in  a particular 
creed,  I see  not  why  I should  anticipate  what  seems  to  me 
the  course  of  nature  in  developing  the  mental  powers. 
Unaided  by  any  precedent  for  this  case,  one  can  look 
only  to  the  book  of  nature ; and  that  seems  to  teach 
that  we  should  prepare  the  soul  for  loving  and  worship- 
ping God  by  developing  its  powers  and  making  it 
acquainted  with  his  wonderful  and  benevolent  works,, 
before  we  lay  down  rules  of  blind  obedience. 

“ Should  Laura’s  life  be  spared,  it  is  certain  she  can 
be  made  to  understand  every  religious  truth  that  it  may 
be  desirable  to  teach  her.  Should  she  die  young,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  she  will  be  taken  to  the  bosom  of 
that  Father  in  heaven  to  whom  she  is  every  day  paying 
acceptable  tribute  of  thanksgiving  and  praise  by  her 
glad  enjojunent  of  the  gift  of  existence.  With  these 
views,  while  I am  readjT  to  improve  every  opportunity 
of  giving  what  she  seems  to  need,  I cannot  consent  to 
attempt  to  impart  a knowledge  of  any  truth  for  which 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


131 


her  mind  is  not  prepared ; and  I would  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  beseech  those  friends  of  hers  who  differ  from 
me,  and  who  may  occasionally  converse  with  her,  to 
reflect  that,  while  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  case 
rests  upon  me,  it  is  unjust  in  them  to  do  what  they 
may  easily  do,  — instil  into  her  mind  notions  which 
might  derange  the  whole  plan  of  her  instruction.  ” 


132 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Laura  has  just  passed  her  thirteenth  birthday, 
Dec.  21,  1842,  and  we  turn  to  the  journal  to 
continue  our  story. 

Jan.  2.  She  was  troubled  about  some  little  acts  of 
rudeness  yesterday,  and  asked  the  question,  which  she 
so  often  does  now  when  told  she  has  not  done  right, 

Can  Grod  see  it  and  know  it,  and  does  he  like  it?  ” 
In  her  lesson  she  asked  of  what  cheese  is  made,  and 
how  it  differs  from  butter.  “ What  is  name  of  (here 
she  made  a sign  of  moving  her  arms  up  and  down)  to 
make  butter  called  ? I churned  when  I lived  with  my 
mother,  and  blistered  my  hands,  and  made  them  very 
hard.  What  is  chalk?  What  is  ink?  What  would  it 
do  if  I drink  it,  and  what  would  chalk  do  if  I ate  it  ? ” 
Told  her  it  was  sometimes  taken  for  medicine.  She 
asked,  “ Why  did  not  Catherine  take  chalk  ? She  was 
sick  eight  weeks,  fifty-six  days.”  She  had  been  told  it 
was  New  Year’s  Day  yesterday,  so  to-day  she  asked, 
“ Is  it  Happy  New  Year  to-day  ? Who  told  all  folks  it 
was  Happy  New  Year?  ” 

Jan.  5.  Last  evening  when  I returned  from  Boston 
I went  to  the  parlor  and  found  Miss  J.  alone ; soon 
Laura  came  in  and  seated  herself,  without  speaking  to 
any  one,  at  some  little  distance  from  either  of  us. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


133 


After  sitting  quietly  knitting  for  a quarter  of  an  hour 
she  said,  “ Who  talks  with  you?  I think  it  is  Swift.” 
She  had  been  told  that  I was  away,  and  had  no  possi- 
ble way  of  knowing  any  one  was  in  the  room,  except 
by  the  motion  of  the  air  made  in  talking,  for  I had  not 
moved  from  my  chair  since  she  came  into  the  room. 
Miss  J.  asked  her  how  she  knew  any  one  was  in  the 
room.  She  replied,  “ I felt  them  talk.” 

Jan.  6.  Laura  had  a nervous  day,  and  lost  part  of 
her  lesson.  Talking  about  some  things  which  she  had 
done  in  the  morning,  she  said,  “ What  made  me  very 
rude  ? I think  I did  not  feel  good  in  heart,  because  I 
broke  knob  this  morning.”  Asked  her  if  she  felt  good 
now.  “ I cannot  feel  good  until  I learn  to  be  good.” 

It  is  necessary  to  explain  here  our  use  of  the 
word  rude,  which,  perhaps,  had  acquired  a mean- 
ing somewhat  peculiar.  As  has  been  said,  Laura 
has  a highly  nervous  temperament,  and  while  the 
ceaseless  activity  which  results  from  it,  giving 
her  mind  unusual  power,  is  a very  valuable  assist- 
ance in  her  intellectual  training,  the  effects  of  it 
in  other  directions  are  to  be  counteracted  con- 
stantly. Some  days  she  seems  to  be  in  a quiver 
of  nervous  excitement,  and  if  we  did  not  resort  to 
systematic  exercise  and  so  work  off  the  superfluous 
nervous  fluid,  she  would  have  many  more  such 
times  of  trial  as  that  alluded  to  above.  We  call 
all  these  developments  rudeness , though,  strictly 
speaking,  many  of  them  would  not  be  so  consid- 
ered in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  the  word. 


134 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Laura  sometimes  showed  a little  of  the  coquette 
which  was  very  amusing.  Charles  Sumner  was, 
at  this  time,  a frequent  visitor,  and  she  felt  very 
well  acquainted  with  him,  and  was  fond  of  having 
a play  with  him  occasionally. 

Jan.  9.  She  wished  to  talk  of  the  gentlemen  she 
had  seen  lately,  and  was  disposed  to  criticise  them 
quite  severely.  “ Sumner  is  not  gentle  like  Doctor. 
Why  does  Doctor  want  Sumner  to  come  here  if  he  is 
not  gentle  ? ” In  reply  I used  the  word  ‘ 1 like  ” instead 
of  “ love.”  She  corrected  me  at  once,  and  said,  “ Like 
is  not  love.”  “ It  is  not  different.”  Explained  the  use 
of  “like”  in  this  sense,  and  she  said,  “ I do  not  like  or 
love  Sumner  ; I do  not  care  for  him.  I did  not  like  Dr. 
Jarvis  when  he  was  here,  because  I did  not  know  him.” 

Jan.  10.  In  the  midst  of  a conversation  on  bread- 
making, she  suddenly  changed  the  subject  by  asking, 
“Why  does  not  God  want  you  in  heaven  now?  Does 
he  know  what  you  teach  me  ? Does  he  know  what  I 
think?  Do  you?  Try.”  And  then  she  held  her  fore- 
head towards  me,  that  I might  read  her  thoughts.  In 
speaking  of  her  mother,  she  said,  “ She  came  to  see  me 
two  times.”  I gave  her  the  word  “ twice.”  She  asked 
how  many  weeks  I stayed  in  Castine,  and  when  told 
three,  said,  “ Why  did  you  stay  thrice? ” 

Jan.  13.  Commenced  her  conversation  by  asking,  “Is 
salt  made  ? ” She  was  much  interested  in  an  account  of 
it.  Her  next  query  was,  “ How  is  gravy  made?  What 
is  sauce  made  of?  What  is  lead  in  my  pencil?  What 
is  oil  made  of,  and  hair-oil,  and  rum,  and  camphor,  and 
cologne  ? What  would  I do  if  I drank  them  ? ” When 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


135 


told  that  rum  would  make  her  sleepy,  and  she  could 
not  walk  straight,  she  said,  u I was  very  sick  in  head 
last  summer,  and  very  sleepy,  and  walked  crooked.” 

Jan . 19.  She  had  found  something  about  Indians  in 
her  book,  and  asked,  “ Why  do  they  not  have  houses 
like  us,  and  why  not  clothes  like  us?  I think  Indians 
are  very  poor.  Why  did  not  God  give  poor  Indians 
clothes  like  us?”  Dr.  Jarvis  came  into  the  room,  and 
she  wished  me  to  ask  him  if  he  had  ever  seen  Indians. 
He  told  her  a story  of  one  which  pleased  her  much. 
“ Why  were  Indians  not  white  like  us?  Why  do  they 
wear  blankets?  Are  they  not  sorry  not  to  have 
clothes?”  etc.,  etc. 

Jan.  23.  A conversation  on  “ noises,”  made  neces- 
sary by  her  making  so  many  of  late.  She  attempted  to 
justify  herself  by  saying,  “ Some  of  my  noises  are  not 
bad,  some  are  pretty  noises.  I must  make  noises  to 
call  some  one.”  Then  to  divert  attention  as  well  as  to 
get  information,  u Why  does  wolf  make  bad  noises?  ” 
After  half  an  hour’s  talk  she  promised  to  try  to  remem- 
ber to  be  quiet,  and  during  the  rest  of  the  day  she  did 
remember  very  well.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  day  she 
made  a noise  in  a whisper,  and  said,  “ That  was  with 
my  tongue,  I made  your  smooth  noise.” 

Jan.  27.  After  coming  into  the  school-room  she  sat 
still  a moment.  Some  one  was  playing  very  softly  on 
the  organ  in  the  hall  above.  She  asked,  “ Why  does 
the  house  shake  ? What  makes  organ  shake  ? Does  it 
make  a bad  loud  noise  ? ” 

During  the  last  year  many  persons  of  distinc- 
tion in  the  world  of  science  and  letters  had  visited 


136 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Laura,  and  among  the  number  George  Combe, 
Esq.,  of  Scotland.  Much  had  been  said  of  the 
importance  of  carefully  recording  everything  with 
regard  to  this  peculiar  child,  as  there  might  other- 
wise be  many  things  lost,  which  would  be  of  the 
greatest  value  to  science.  Dr.  Howe  had  long 
wished  that  he  could  employ  a teacher  who  should 
devote  her  whole  attention  to  her,  but  there 
were  no  funds  that  could  be  so  appropriated. 
Mr.  Combe  urged  that  this  ought  to  be  done 
at  once,  and  a gentleman  accompanying  him  of- 
fered to  assist  in  defraying  the  expense.  Others 
joined  him,  and  the  work  was  assigned  to  the 
writer. 

At  once  we  arranged  an  order  for  study,  exer- 
cise, and  work,  as  follows  : From  6.15  to  7 a.m., 
arithmetic  ; breakfast,  domestic  duties,  putting  her 
room  in  order,  etc.,  until  9,  when  we  had  an  hour 
for  conversation.  At  10  geography ; at  11  writ- 
ing; at  12  reading  from  books  to  her,  with  conver- 
sation on  the  subject.  The  last  fifteen  minutes  of 
each  hour  was  a recess.  At  1 knitting  or  sewing ; 
at  2 she  joined  the  blind  girls  in  calisthenic  exer- 
cises until  her  dinner.  After  dinner  a long  walk, 
and  then  knitting  until  6.  During  her  walks  not 
a moment  was  wasted,  as  leaning  on  my  right  arm, 
giving  herself  no  care  of  her  footing,  which  she 
trusted  entirely  to  my  guidance,  she  conversed 
steadily,  unless  the  condition  of  the  roads  made  it 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


137 


impossible  for  my  eye  to  read  her  fingers  and 
choose  the  way  at  the  same  time.  A walk  of  five 
miles  under  such  circumstances  was  no  sinecure  as 
may  be  readily  perceived ; indeed,  it  often  proved 
the  most  difficult  part  of  the  day’s  work. 

Of  her  general  knowledge  of  language  at  this 
time,  and  her  ability  to  use  it,  the  reader  of  the 
previous  pages  can  form  an  idea.  Her  lessons  in 
arithmetic  had  been  very  irregular,  and  she  had 
had  time  between  them  to  forget  what  she  had 
previously  learned.  Geography  was  a new  study. 
We  had  hitherto  read  very  little  to  her  from 
books,  because  the  time  allowed  us  was  so  brief. 

She  had  reached  a point  now  when  the  desul- 
tory manner  of  teaching,  that  we  had  of  necessity 
adopted,  ought  to  be  exchanged  for  one  of  more 
system.  The  much-loved  hour  in  which  she  had 
been  allowed  to  bring  her  own  subjects  for  con- 
versation was  continued  at  nine,  and  she  was 
pleased  when  told  she  was  to  be  taught  geogra- 
phy. Writing  had  always  given  her  much  trouble. 
She  was  very  patient  when  first  learning  to  form  the 
letters,  and  wrote  well,  but  soon  became  careless. 
In  her  present  stage  of  advance,  she  is  inclined  to 
think  all  time  spent  in  attention  to  the  details  is 
wasted,  and  therefore  it  becomes  irksome  to  her. 
She  is  much  more  willing  to  give  thought  to 
the  matter  than  to  the  manner  of  writing,  and  per- 
haps she  will  have  the  sympathy  of  many,  who 


138 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


quote  the  saying,  " Bad  chirography  is  evidence 
of  a great  mind.” 

When  the  new  arrangement  was  announced  to 
her  she  was  delighted,  and  entered  upon  it  with 
enthusiasm,  approving  of  it  all,  save  that  she 
would  have  preferred  to  spend  the  hour  for  her 
work  in  the  afternoon  in  play  or  roaming  about, 
and  talking  with  the  blind  girls. 

Jan.  30.  We  commenced  to-day  working  by  the 
new  schedule.  Her  first  lesson  in  geography  was  upon 
the  points  of  the  compass.  She  had  some  idea  of  the 
four  cardinal  ones,  and  she  learned  in  addition  those 
between  them.  She  practised  writing  some  of  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet  very  slowly,  for  a quarter  of  an 
hour,  and  was  allowed  to  spend  the  rest  of  the  time  in 
writing  her  journal. 

She  has  been  in  the  habit  of  writing  daily  a 
short  account  of  the  lessons  which  have  specially 
interested  her,  or  of  any  particular  incident. 

Jan.  31.  Wishing  to  find  just  what  she  knew  in 
arithmetic,  I gave  her  an  example  in  addition  which 
she  did  very  well,  then  in  subtraction,  when  she  failed 
in  writing  the  numbers  correctly  and  in  performing  the 
operation.  In  multiplication  she  did  well.  The  rest  of 
the  lesson  was  devoted  to  numeration,  writing  numbers, 
and  teaching  her  the  hard  words  of  the  table.  Finding 
she  understood  the  points  of  the  compass,  and  could 
point  in  any  direction  I required,  after  haying  been 
placed  with  her  face  to  the  north,  I gave  her  an 
exercise  in  bounding  the  room  we  were  in,  and  others 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


139 


round  it.  I asked  her  what  I meant  by  “ bound.”  She 
took  up  a piece  of  india-rubber  and  throwing  it  on  the 
desk  said,  “It  is  little  elastic  and  bounds.”  Had  to 
explain  to  her  the  other  signification  of  the  word. 

Feb . 1 . Found  that  she  could  not  bound  the  rooms 
I gave  her  yesterday,  unless  she  went  into  them.  Exer- 
cised her  in  it  for  some  time,  and  then  she  bounded  the 
dining-room  and  kitchen  without  going  to  them ; the 
entries  were  more  difficult,  but  she  succeeded  in  bound- 
ing two  of  them. 

I read  to  her  the  following  story  yesterday  : — 

“1.  An  old  man  had  a plum-tree,  and  when  the 
plums  were  ripe  he  said  to  his  boy,  John, 

44  2.  I want  you  to  pick  the  plums  off  my  tree,  for  I 
am  an  old  man,  and  I cannot  get  up  into  my  tree  to 
pick  them. 

“3.  Then  John  said,  4 Yes,%  sir,  I will  get  up  into 
the  tree  and  pick  them  for  you.’ 

44  4.  So  the  boy  got  up,  and  the  old  man  gave  him  a 
pail  to  put  the  plums  in,  and  he  hung  it  up  in  the  tree 
near  him. 

44  5.  And  then  he  put  the  plums  into  the  pail,  one  by 
one,  till  the  pail  was  full. 

44  6.  When  the  boy  saw  that  the  pail  was  full  he  said 
to  the  old  man,  4 Let  me  give  you  the  pail,  for  it  is  full.’ 

44  7.  Then  the  man  held  up  his  hand  and  took  the 
pail  of  plums  and  put  them  in  his  cart. 

44  8.  4 For,’  said  he,  4 1 am  to  take  them  to  town  in 
my  cart  to  sell  them,’  and  he  gave  the  boy  back  the 
pail  to  fill  with  more  plums. 

44  9.  At  last  the  boy  said,  4 1 am  tired  and  hot ; will 
you  give  me  a plum  to  eat  ? ’ 


140 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


44  10.  4 Yes/  said  the  old  man,  4 for  you  are  a good 
boy,  and  have  worked  well ; so  I will  give  you  ten 
plums,  for  you  have  earned  them.’ 

44  11.  The  boy  was  glad  to  hear  him  sa}^  so,  and 
said,  4 1 do  not  want  to  eat  them  all  now ; I will  eat 
five,  and  take  five  home  to  my  sister/ 

44  12.  4 You  may  get  down  now,’  said  the  old  man, 
4 for  it  will  soon  be  dark,  and  then  you  will  lose  your 
way  home.’ 

44  13.  So  the  boy  got  down  and  ran  home,  and  felt 
glad  that  he  had  been  kind  to  the  old  man. 

44  14.  And  when  he  got  home  he  was  glad  he  had 
been  kind  to  his  sister,  and  kept  half  his  plums  for 
her.” 

To-day  she  asked  me  if  she  might  write  this  story 
in  her  journal.  The  following  is  a copy  of  what  she 
wrote  without  assistance,  the  punctuation  marks  alone 
being  added : — 

44  An  old  man  had  a large  plum-tree  ; he  had  a little 
boy  John ; the  man  asked  John  to  please  to  go  up  on 
the  tree  to  pick  many  plums  because  he  was  very  old 
and  lame.  The  man  gave  John  a pail  for  plums. 
John  put  them  in  till  it  was  very  full ; he  said  to  the 
man,  it  is  very  full  of  plums.  He  took  the  pail  up  in 
his  cart  to  sell  them.  John  was  tired  & hot ; he  asked 
the  man  if  he  might  take  one  plum.  The  man  said  he 
might  take  ten  plums,  because  he  was  a very  good  boy 
to  earn  them  hard.  The  man  told  him  to  hurry  home. 
He  ate  five  plums ; he  gave  his  sister  five  plums ; he 
felt  very  happy  because  he  helped  the  old  man  much, 
and  made  his  sister  happy.  John  was  kind  to  help  the 
old  man  ; he  was  very  generous  to  give  his  sister  part 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


141 


of  his  plums.  The  old  man  loved  John  very  much. 
If  John  did  not  hurry  home  he  would  have  lost  the 
way.  John  liked  to  help  the  old  man  well.” 

The  last  two  or  three  lines  were  her  own  reflections 
upon  the  story. 

Feb.  2.  She  asked  me  if  she  was  good  yesterday. 
Told  her 'yes,  she  had  been  good  all  the  week.  She 
said,  ‘ 4 Did  I do  any  little  thing  wrong  ? ” Continued 
the  conversation  on  trades,  and  taught  her  the  word 
“ furniture  ” ; when  I was  telling  her  what  work  milli- 
ners did,  she  asked,  “ Do  milliners  make  stockings? 
Milliners  make  stockings  that  have  flowers  on  them.” 
In  the  geography  lesson  she  asked  me  to  teach  hei 
“ above,”  meaning  the  chambers.  She  bounded  all 
the  rooms  on  the  second  floor,  and  remembered  all  of 
yesterday’s  lessons  without  going  to  the  rooms.  In 
writing,  gave  her  a lesson  in  using  chalk  on  the  black- 
board, but  she  does  not  succeed  so  well  as  Oliver.  At 
twelve  told  her  about  seeds,  and  said  I would  tell  her 
what  her  father  did  (he  was  a farmer).  “ How  do  you 
know  what  my  father  does  ? Does  your  father  do  so  ? ” 
“ No  ; my  father  is  a doctor.”  u Why  is  not  my  father 
a doctor?  He  gave  me  medicine  once,  was  he  a 
doctor  ? ” 

Feb.  3.  Gave  her  examples  in  numeration,  in  hun- 
dreds and  thousands,  which  she  performed  very  well, 
numerating  correctly  until  she  had  the  number  8,500, 
which  she  wrote  8,050.  She  hesitated,  and  then  said, 
“ I think  it  is  wrong”  ; but  it  took  her  a long  time  to 
find  how  to  alter  it ; when  she  at  length  succeeded,  she 
said,  “ I was  ver}^  sad  not  to  know.”  She  asked  what 
cups  and  plates  and  saucers  were,  and  learned  the  new 


142 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


word  “ crockery.”  “ What  are  rings  and  knives  and 
forks ? ” “ Jewelry”  and  “ cutlery”  were  then  learned, 

and  she  brought  her  work-box  for  me  to  tell  her  of  what 
it  was  made.  Told  her  about  the  pearl  with  which  it  is 
inlaid,  and  the  rosewood.  Then  she  asked  of  what 
wood  the  doors  were  made,  and  why  pineapples  were 
pine.  “ Who  makes  brass  hinges  for  doors  ? ” Talked 
about  her  locket,  asked  what  color  it  was  under  the 
glass.  Being  told  black,  she  asked,  “ How  can  folks 
see  through  black?  ” In  geography,  she  bounds  any  of 
the  rooms  after  a moment’s  thought,  and  seems  to  under- 
stand it  perfectly.  She  bounded  the  house,  with  a little 
help.  Talked  with  her  about  the  Point,  to  try  to  give 
her  an  idea  of  it,  but  failed. 

While  practising  on  her  letters  in  writing  she  does 
very  well,  but  as  soon  as  she  begins  to  write  in  her 
journal  she  is  careless  again.  In  the  afternoon,  she 
was  asked  to  go  to  the  school-room  to  see  a committee 
of  gentlemen,  and  amused  herself  while  there  by  asking 
the  denominations  after  millions.  Setting  up  a row 
of  types  the  whole  length  of  her  board,  on  numerat- 
ing she  found  it  was  eighty  quintillions.  She  asked, 
u What  people  lived  eighty  quintillions  of  miles  off?  I 
think  it  would  take  ladies  a year  to  go  so  very  far.” 

Feb.  4.  A crowded  exhibition.  Laura  did  well, 
though  at  times  much  excited. 

The  first  Saturday  afternoon  of  each  month  was 
at  this  time  devoted  to  a public  exhibition.  For 
the  first  hour  Laura  was  expected  to  be  in  the 
Bchool-room.  As  her  fame  was  widespread,  there 
were  usually  several  hundreds  of  people  present 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


143 


who  wished  to  see  her,  and  enjoy  also  the  con- 
cert by  the  blind.  This  was  a very  trying  ordeal, 
jyid  she  often  became  so  much  excited  (probably 
in  part  sympathizing  with  her  teacher)  that  it 
was  necessary  to  take  a longer  walk  than  usual  in 
preparation  for  it. 

Feb.  6.  She  writes  numbers  as  high  as  millions  cor- 
rectly. Took  her  to  the  piazza  to  see  the  ice  and  snow  ; 
she  felt  the  zinc  plates  in  the  lower  panes  of  the  windows, 
and  this  suggested  a lesson  on  the  metals.  When  talk- 
ing of  iron,  she  said,  u God  made  some  nails,  and  men 
made  some  of  iron.”  She  talked  about  a point,  and 
asked  me  if  I had  ever  seen  a pond.  She  gave  me  a 
description  of  one  and  of  a river  which  she  said  Tenny 
taught  me  about  river  before  I came  here,  and  I threw 
stones  into  it.”  Taught  her  what  an  ocean  is.  When 
talking  of  birds,  I found  she  supposed  they  had  four 
legs,  and  when  I corrected  her  she  asked,  “ Why  did 
God  not  give  them  four  ? ” 

Feb.  8.  Continued  the  description  of  house  building 
from  yesterday.  She  had  many  questions  to  ask. 

4 4 How  can  men  reach  to  put  up  the  very  high  posts  ? 
How  can  they  fix  beams  ? Where  can  men  sleep  when 
they  are  building  the  house  ? How  do  carpenters  and 
masons  know  when  to  come  ? How  did  they  learn  to 
build  houses  ? Why  do  they  put  fence  round  the  piaz- 
zas, and  why  marble  floors?”  In  geography,  when 
explaining  islands  to  her,  she  said  laughing,  44  Eyes  are 
very  full  of  tears  : are  they  islands  ? ” 

Dr.  Howe  wished  me  to  try  some  experiments 
in  teaching  her  to  speak  words  with  her  mouth. 


144 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Some  time  ago  she  happened  to  make  a noise  that 
sounded  like  ship.  I told  her  she  said  "ship,”  and 
she  remembered  it  always  after,  and  liked  to  have 
me  ask  her  to  say  it.  At  another  time  she  said 
"pie,”  and  at  another  still  "doctor.”  These  she 
constantly  used,  and  has  continued  to  do  so  all  her 
life.  After  much  labor  she  said  "pa”  and  "ma” 
very  well,  and  sometimes  succeeded  in  saying 
"Abby”  and  "baby.”  After  trying  some  time, 
one  day  she  said,  " My  mother  was  wrong  to  make 
me  deaf.”  Told  her  sickness  made  her  so,  and 
she  seemed  satisfied,  but  some  time  after  said, 
" I am  very  sad  that  I cannot  hear  and  speak  and 
see,”  though  the  next  moment  she  was  laughing 
heartily. 

Feb.  9.  When  checked  in  making  noises  she  replied, 
“ I only  made  your  noise  with  my  lips,  and  I tried  to 
talk  with  my  mouth  and  say  Swift,  as  you  and  many  folks 
do.”  In  geography  she  had  her  first  lesson  on  one  of 
the  maps  prepared  in  raised  lines  for  the  use  of  the 
blind,  “Boston  and  Vicinity .”  She  found  South  and 
East  Boston  and  the  bridges,  and  then  studied,  the  city 
itself.  She  had  not  known  before  that  streets  had 
names,  and  was  much  interested  in  tracing  Washington 
Street,  etc.  Had  a long  talk  on  the  subject  of  house- 
building, and  how  fires  sometimes  burned  them  ; what 
people  ought  to  do  to  save  their  clothes,  etc.  She  was 
much  excited. 

Feb.  10.  She  told  me  that  she  had  seen  her  father 
“ burn  short  trees”  in  the  ground,  meaning  stumps  I 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


145 


presume,  and  asked  why  he  wanted  to  do  it.  From  time 
to  time  some  conversation  seems  to  suggest  things 
which  she  knew  about  when  living  at  home,  and  we 
see  by  her  questions  how  much  she  observed  and 
thought  wonderingly  about.  She  seems  to  have  grasped 
numeration  now,  so  advanced  her  to  addition,  which  she 
does  perfectly  well,  but  I wished  her  to  understand  the 
reason  of  carrying  to  the  next  column.  She  learned  it 
very  readily.  On  her  map  to-day  she  found  all  the 
places  she  was  told  yesterday,  and  learned  the  names  of 
some  of  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  but  preferred  to  move 
her  fingers  over  the  whole  map  rather  than  attend  to 
one  place. 

Feb.  13.  Her  examples  in  arithmetic  pleased  her 
much,  and  she  found  how  far  from  Portland,  Me.,  to 
Savannah,  Ga.,  by  adding  the  distances  between  the 
cities  on  the  route  ; how  many  times  the  clock  strikes  in 
twenty-four  hours,  etc.  In  her  journal  she  wrote  the 
following  account  of  a story  I read  to  her  yesterday : 

4 ‘ A poor  little  girl  was  sitting  on  the  step.  A man  was 
passing  in  the  cart  and  little  girl  did  not  know  what  was 
in  the  cart.  A man  stopped  by  her  and  took  out  a 
lamb  that  was  almost  dead  ; he  told  her  she  might  have 
it  if  she  wanted  it.  She  held  it  and  kept  it  warm  with 
her  dress,  and  tried  to  have  it  drink  some  of  her  milk. 
It  lay  down  stiff  and  could  not  move  to  drink  some 
milk.  It  got  well  after  a few  days.  In  one  day  the 
little  girl  lost  a lamb  and  she  went  to  look  for  it  in  the 
barn,  but  it  was  not  there  ; then  she  went  to  look  for  it 
in  the  wood-yard.  She  called  it  to  come  to  her,  but  it 
cried  because  rt  was  very  much  hurt  with  a stick  of 
wood.  She  took  the  stick  from  her  poor  leg.  She  took 
10 


146 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


it  in  her  arms  to  get  it  well.  She  put  it  in  some  soft 
hay  under  the  sun  to  go  to  sleep,  and  then  it  could  play 
and  frisk.” 

It  was  my  rule  to  read  a story  to  ner  only  once, 
explaining  any  words  that  were  new,  and  on  the 
following  day  she  wrote  what  she  could  remember 
in  such  words  as  she  pleased,  and  often  they  were 
quite  unlike  the  book. 

Feb.  14.  Laura  was  left  alone  with  the  map,  and 
when  I returned  said,  “ I have  read  all  the  names  and 
studied  Quincy  Ba 3T.”  With  very  little  assistance  she 
bounded  Roxbury,  Brookline,  and  Brighton.  She 
now  keeps  the  run  of  the  day  of  the  month,  and  writes 
it  at  the  head  of  each  journal  entry.  Read  a story  to 
her  which  was  told  as  a dialogue  ; her  account  of  it  was 
strangely  mixed  and  without  sense. 

Feb.  16.  Gave  Laura,  among  other  examples,  one 
requiring  her  to  find  the  weight  of  a cow  ; when  I gave 
her  the  weight  of  the  Jude , I asked  her  if  she  knew  what 
I meant.  “ Yes,  to  put  away  things.’’  Taught  her 
“dry  measure.”  Took  half  a peck  of  beans  and  a 
half-pint  measure,  told  her  the  number  of  gills  in  it, 
and  then  had  her  measure  by  the  cupful,  telling  me  each 
one  how  many  gills  and  pints  it  made,  and  then  at 
another  time  the  quarts,  pints,  and  gills,  until  she  had 
measured  the  half-peck.  Such  lessons  are  her  delight, 
and  she  was  very  soon  entirely  familiar  with  it,  and 
could  quickly  answer  questions  on  the  number  of  gills  or 
pints  in  a peck,  bushel,  etc.  I copy  the  story  alluded 
to  above,  as  she  wrote  it  after  the  second  reading : ' 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


147 


“One  day  little  Rollo  was  sitting  by  the  fire  on  his 
green  cricket ; his  mother  was  sitting  at  her  work-table  ; 
he  asked  her,  ‘When  father  would  come  home?’  She 
said,  ‘ He  will  come  pretty  soon.  * Rollo  told  her  he 
thought  he  had  better  go  and  take  hold  of  the  great 
rocking-chair  to  pull  it  to  the  fire  for  father.  So  he 
began  to  cry  because  chair  would  not  come  to  the  fire 
to  please  him.  Mother  looked  up,  — ‘ Rollo,  what  is 
the  matter?’  and  he  said,  ‘The  chair  will  not  come.’ 
Mother  said,  ‘Why  Rollo  wanted  it?’  He  said  he 
‘Wanted  to  save  father  the  trouble.’”  (This  was  a 
phrase  she  had  lately  learned,  so  she  used  it  here, 
although  not  in  the  story.)  “She  told  Rollo  that  he 
troubled  her  by  crying  ; then  he  stood  by  the  chair  and 
swang  back  and  forth.  By  and  by,  he  said  he  was 
going  to  get  his  father’s  slippers  from  the  little  closet  by 
the  side  of  the  fire  and  put  them  in  the  corner  by  the 
fire.  When  his  father  came  home,  then  Rollo  ran  to  the 
door,  and  said  to  him  he  could  not  move  the  chair,  but 
father’s  slippers  are  all  ready  for  him.” 

'Feb.  17.  One  example  in  arithmetic  this  morn  was, 
to  find  the  age  of  a man,  having  the  time  he  had  lived 
in  several  places  given.  She  said,  “ He  lived  in  many 
places,  I am  not  sure  why,  — why  ? ” She  asked  many 
questions  about  a party  I attended  last  evening,  “ How 
the  ladies  knew  when  to  come  ? ” Taught  her  ‘ ‘ invi- 
tation.” “Why  was  not  I invited?”  Told  her  she 
was  a little  girl.  “ Doctor  says  I am  tall.”  But  she  was 
satisfied  when  told  that  the  blind  girls  did  not  go. 
She  was  much  amused  in  her  walk  yesterday  over  snow 
that  was  incrusted,  but  not  sufficiently  to  bear  her 
weight.  When  she  broke  through,  she  would  scream 


148 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


with  delight,  and  pull  me  after  her.  Promised  to 
explain  the  reason  in  the  lesson  this  morning,  so  we 
talked  on  ice,  etc. 

Found  to  my  surprise  that  she  could  bound  all  the 
towns  I had  taught  her  without  the  aid  of  the  map,  and 
to-day  she  completed  the  circuit  of  Boston  from  Rox- 
bury  round  to  Malden.  She  takes  much  pleasure  in 
this  study. 

At  noon  took  her  to  the  stable  to  let  her  measure 
oats  with  the  half-peck  measure,  and  then  to  the  store- 
room to  teach  her  wine  measure.  Found  a gallon,  and 
also  hogshead,  tierce,  and  barrel.  She  readily  learned 
their  names  and  number  of  gallons  they  would  hold,  and 
then  wanted  to  examine  other  things,  -—coffee  in  a bag, 
sugar  and  salt  in  barrels,  ginger,  pepper,  etc.,  in  boxes 
of  twenty-five  pounds,  starch  in  papers,  tea-chest  box 
and  lead  within.  It  was  my  intention  to  make  two  les- 
sons of  this,  but  there  was  no  place  to  stop  answering 
her  questions. 

Feb.  18.  When  she  bounded  Chelsea,  and  found  it 
was  north  by  Reading,  she  said,  “Who  lives  in  Read- 
ing?” making  the  sign  of  reading  in  a book,  and  laugh- 
ing heartily. 

The  following  is  a copy  of  a letter  written  in  place  of 
her  journal  exercise  : — 

Twentyth  Day  of  February. 

My  dear  Miss  Susan  : 

Miss  Swift  sends  much  love  to  you,  & she  wants 
to  see  you.  Miss  Swift  teaches  me  five  hours,  — to 
cypher,  & to  talk  about  many  things,  and  to  study 
geography,  & to  write  & to  read  about  stories  in  the 
books  to  me.  She  teaches  me  calisthenics  every  day  in 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


149 


the  afternoon.  Will  yon  please  to  write  a letter  to  me 
some  time  ? I was  very  sore  from  exercising  ; I am  well 
now.  I send  my  love  to  Mrs.  Swift ; I want  to  see  her 
very  much.  I like  calisthenics  much ; it  makes  me 
strong  and  well,  like  the  walking.  I go  to  meeting 
with  Miss  Rogers  every  Sunday.  I like  to  go  to  meet- 
ing very  much.  Good  by,  my  friend. 

Feb.  22.  Found  that  she  was  studying  her  geography 
with  a thorough  understanding  of  it.  Some  days  since 
she  had  learned  to  bound  West  Cambridge  ; and  to-day, 
when  asked  to  bound  Lexington,  she  traced  it  on  the 
map  until  she  got  to  the  south,  and  then  took  off  her 
hands  and  said,  UI  must  think  the  south,”  and  in  an 
instant  told  me,  “ By  West  Cambridge.” 

Dr.  Howe  thus  relates  the  story  of  deception 
which  occurred  this  day,  prefacing  it  with  the 
remark  that  it  was  perhaps  attributable  to  indis- 
cretion on  his  part : — 

“ She  came  to  me  one  day  dressed  for  a walk,  and  had 
on  a new  pair  of  gloves  which  were  stout  and  rather 
coarse.  I began  to  banter  and  tease  her  (in  that  spirit 
of  fun  of  which  she  is  very  fond,  and  which  she  usually 
returns  with  interest)  upon  the  clumsy  appearance  of 
the  hands,  at  which  she  first  laughed,  but  soon  began 
to  look  so  serious  and  even  grieved  that  I tried  to  direct 
her  attention  to  something  else,  and  soon  forgot  the 
subject.  But  not  so  poor  Laura ; here  her  persona] 
vanity  or  her  love  of  approbation  had  been  wounded ; 
she  thought  the  gloves  were  the  cause  of  it,  and  she 
resolved  to  be  rid  of  them.  Accordingly,  they  disap- 


150 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


peared  and  were  supposed  to  be  lost ; but  her  guileless 
nature  betrayed  itself,  for  without  being  questioned  she 
frequently  talked  about  the  gloves,  not  saying  directly 
that  they  were  lost,  but  asking  if  they  might  not  be  in 
such  or  such  a place.  She  was  uneas}r  under  the  new 
garb  of  deceit,  and  soon  excited  suspicion.  When  it 
reached  my  ears,  I was  exceedingly  pained,  and,  more- 
over, doubtful  what  course  to  pursue.  At  last,  taking 
her  in  the  most  affectionate  wa}^,  I began  to  tell  her  a story 
of  a little  girl  who  was  much  beloved  by  her  parents 
and  brothers  and  sisters,  and  for  whose  happiness  everjT- 
thing  was  done ; and  asked  her  whether  the  little  girl 
should  not  love  them  in  return  and  try  to  make  them 
happy,  to  which  she  eagerly  assented.  But,  said  I, 
she  did  not ; she  was  careless  and  caused  them  much 
pain.  At  this,  Laura  was  excited,  and  said  the  girl 
was  in  the  wrong,  and  asked  what  she  did  to  displease 
her  relations.  I replied,  she  deceived  them.  They 
never  told  her  anything  but  truth ; but  she,  one  day, 
acted  so  as  to  make  them  think  she  had  not  done  a 
thing,  when  she  had  done  it.  Laura  then  eagerly  asked 
if  the  girl  told  a fib,  and  I explained  to  her  how  one 
might  tell  a falsehood  without  sajdng  a word,  which  she 
readily  understood,  becoming  all  the  time  more  inter- 
ested and  evidentty  touched.  I then  tried  to  explain 
to  her  the  different  degrees  of  culpability,  resulting 
from  carelessness,  from  disobedience,  and  from  inten- 
tional deceit.  She  soon  grew  pale,  and  evidently 
began  to  apply  the  remarks  to  her  own  case,  but  still 
was  very  eager  to  know  about  “ the  wrong  little  girl” 
and  how  her  parents  treated  her.  I told  her  her  parents 
were  grieved  and  cried,  at  which  she  could  hardly 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


151 


restrain  her  own  tears.  After  a while,  she  confessed 
to  me  that  she  had  deceived  about  the  gloves,  that  they 
were  not  lost,  but  hidden  away.  I then  tried  to  show 
her  that  I cared  nothing  about  the  gloves,  that  the  loss 
of  a hundred  pairs  would  be  nothing  if  unaccompanied 
by  any  deceit.  She  perceived  that  I was  grieved,  and 
going  to  leave  her  to  her  own  thoughts,  clung  to  me  as 
if  in  terror  of  being  alone.  I was  forced,  however,  to 
inflict  the  pain  upon  her. 

“ Her  teachers  and  the  persons  most  immediately 
about  her  were  requested  to  manifest  no  other  feeling 
than  that  of  sorrow  on  her  account ; and  the  poor  crea- 
ture, going  about  from  one  to  another  for  comfort  and 
for  joy,  but  finding  only  sadness,  soon  became  agonized 
with  grief.  When  left  alone,  she  sat  pale  and  motion- 
less, with  a countenance  the  very  image  of  sorrow  ; and 
so  severe  seemed  the  discipline  that  I feared  lest  the 
memory  of  it  should  be  terrible  enough  to  tempt  her  to 
have  recourse  to  the  common  artifice  of  concealing  one 
prevarication  by  another,  and  thus  insensibly  get  her 
into  the  habit  of  falsehood.  I therefore  comforted  her 
by  assurances  of  the  continued  affection  of  her  friends, 
tried  to  make  her  understand  that  their  grief  and  her 
suffering  were  the  simple  and  necessary  consequences 
of  her  careless  or  wilful  misstatement,  and  made  her 
reflect  upon  the  nature  of  the  emotion  she  experienced 
after  having  uttered  the  untruth ; how  unpleasant  it 
was,  how  it  made  her  feel  afraid,  and  how  widely  dif- 
ferent it  was  from  the  fearless  and  placid  emotion  which 
followe4  truth.” 

Feb.  23.  The  morning  lesson  was  very  good,  but  at 
the  hour  for  conversation  she  could  only  talk  about  the 


152 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


gloves,  and  at  request  of  Dr.  H.  I left  her  to  sit  by 
herself. 

Feb.  24.  She  finished  the  map  of  Boston  and  vicin- 
ity. When  asked  to  name  the  towns  north,  west,  and 
south  of  Boston,  she  did  it  correctly  at  once,  without 
reference  to  the  map.  She  has  taken  less  time  on  this 
map  than  any  of  the  blind  children. 

Later  in  the  day  she  asked,  “ Are  you  tired  to  live  ? ” 
Corrected  the  form  of  question,  and  answered,  “No.” 
u Are  you  tired  of  moving?”  Asked  her  if  she  was 
tired  of  living.  “ No,  but  you  have  lived  many  years.” 
“ Do  you  think  you  would  be  tired  if  you  had  lived 
twenty  years  ? ” She  hesitated,  and  thought  some  time 
about  it,  but  decided  she  should  not. 

Feb.  25.  “ When  I am  a lady  I shall  go  and  never 

come  ; Doctor  says  ladies  do  not  go  to  school.”  Asked 
where  she  should  go.  “To  Hanover,  but  I want  you 
to  come  and  live  with  me  to  take  care  of  baby  sister, 
because  my  mother  and  the  girl  are  very  busy,  and 
cannot  take  care  of  her  and  me.”  “ When  you  are  a 
lady,  you  ought  to  take  care  of  yourself.”  She  said, 
‘ 4 Can  I tell  myself  when  to  put  on  other  dress  ? ” She 
talked  a long  time  about  what  things  she  could  do  to 
help  her  mother,  and  then  changed  the  subject  to  talk 
about  u giving  away  things.”  She  said,  “ Doctor  says 
I must  not  give  things  away  that  ladies  give  me.” 
Fearing  that  she  had  not  quite  understood  his  meaning, 
and  that  she  might  think  this  would  be  an  excuse  for 
selfishness,  I proposed  that  she  should  give  to  her  little 
sister  the  playthings  which  she  did  not  use  now ; she 
made  several  excuses  for  not  doing  so,  but  at  last  con- 
cluded she  would  like  to.  She  said,  “ Pigs  are  very 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


153 


stingy,  they  eat  all  the  food,  and  do  not  give  baby  pigs 
any.”  Told  her  the  birds  gave  each  other  food.  This 
was  a puzzle  to  her,  and  she  talked  long,  trying  to  settle 
the  question  if  the  pigs  were  wrong.  Children  usually 
prefer  to  skip  the  moral  of  a story,  but  Laura  always 
wishes  to  discuss  it ; she  never  seems  quite  satisfied 
with  the  results  of  her  own  reasoning,  or  with  my  ver- 
dicts on  such  questions. 

Feb.  27.  Laura  told  me  a story  of  her  early  child- 
hood to-day  : u When  I was  a little  girl  in  Hanover  I 
threw  the  cat  into  the  fire,  and  she  ran  fast,  and  my 
mother  ran  fast  to  take  her  out,  and  she  burned  her 
foot  very  much.  She  went  away  into  the  woods,  and 
never  came  out.”  It  is  singular  that,  after  being  with 
us  and  able  to  talk  for  so  many  years,  she  should  just 
now  remember  an  incident  of  this  kind  and  relate  it. 

After  recess  she  said,  “ I was  very  much  frightened. 
I thought  I felt  some  one  make  a great  noise,  and  I 
trembled,  and  my  heart  ached  very  quick.”  Probably 
the  children  had  made  some  unusual  sound  in  romping, 
but  I had  not  perceived  it.  She  asked,  “ Do  you 
know  any  crazzy  persons  ? ” Then  altered  the  word  to 
u craxy,”  and  finally  “ crazy.”  Asked  who  told  her 
that  word.  She  said,  “ Lurena  told  about  crazy  per- 
sons, and  said  she  was  once  crazy  herself.  What  is 
crazy  ? ” Told  her  crazy  persons  could  not  think  what 
they  were  doing,  and  attempted  to  change  the  subject, 
but  she  immediately  returned  to  it,  and  repeated  the 
question,  “ Have  you  seen  crazy  people  ? ” And  would 
not  be  satisfied  without  an  answer.  I replied,  “ I saw  a 
woman  once  who  walked  about.”  “ Why  did  she  walk? 
How  could  she  think  to  walk  ? ” Here  she  showed  the 


154 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


error  of  my  definition.  Explained  to  her  that  some* 
times  people  were  sick,  and  that  made  them  crazy. 
“ Who  will  take  care  of  me  if  I am  crazy?  ” Laughed 
at  her,  and  told  her  she  would  not  be.  “I  said  if” 
I promised  to  take  care  of  her  if  she  would  be  gentle 
and  kind  to  me.  “ Can  I talk  with  my  fingers?  Did 
you  ever  see  a dizzy  lady  ? How  do  you  dizzy  ? ” She 
said  she  dreamed  last  night  about  her  mother  and  the 
baby,  and  talked  with  her  fingers  as  in  the  daytime. 
I questioned  her  particularly  as  to  what  she  dreamed, 
but  got  no  satisfactory  answer. 

Laura  writes  a great  many  letters  to  her  friends  now. 
The  following  is  a copy  of  one  just  written  to  her 
mother.  She  has  in  this  for  the  first  time  asked  ques- 
tions about  family  affairs.  I asked  why  she  said,  “ My 
dear  my  mother.”  “ She  is  my  mother,  and  she  would 
not  know  if  I did  not  write  it  so.” 

My  Dear  my  Mother. 

I want  to  see  you  very  much.  I send  very  much 
love  to  you.  I send  ten  kisses  to  sister  Mary.  My  one 
pair  of  stockings  are  done.*  Can  Mary  walk  with  her 
feet?  Do  stockings  fit  her?  I want  you  to  write  a 
letter  to  me  some  time.  Miss  Swift  teaches  me  to  say 
father,  & mother,  & baby.  I want  you  to  come  to 
South  Boston  with  my  sister,  to  stay  few  days  and  to 
see  me  exercising  the  calisthenics.  Oliver  can  talk 
with  his  fingers  very  faster  about  words.  I will  write  a 
letter  to  you  again.  Miss  J.  & Doctor  send  love  to 
you.  Miss  Davis  is  married,  — Mrs.  Davis  ; she  has 
gone  to  live  with  her  husband  in  Dudley.  Is  Mary  well  ? 


* She  had  knit  a pair  to  send  with  the  letter. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


155 


Is  my  aunt  well?  I send  love  to  her.  I will  write  a 
letter  to  you  soon  some  time.  Why  did  you  not  write  a 
letter  to  me?  I go  to  meeting  every  Sunday.  I am 
gentle  in  church  with  Miss  Rogers.  I am  happy 
there.  Good-bye. 

Feb.  28.  Laura  was  quite  forgetful  in  her  lesson, 
and  said  as  an  excuse,  “ I was  thinking  about  wife  and 
Doctor.”  She  had  just  been  told  of  Doctor’s  intended 
marriage,  and  evidently  did  not  know  whether  to  be 
glad  or  sorry  about  it.  She  said,  “ To-morrow  will  be 
March ; will  it  be  the  once  day  of  March  ? ” 

March  1.  Taught  her  cloth  measure,  and  let  her 
measure  everything  about  her.  She  was  quite  dis- 
turbed to  find  her  fingers  were  all  of  different  length, 
and  said,  “ Why  did  not  God  make  them  all  alike?” 
In  geography  found  she  had  forgotten  some  of  her  defi- 
nitions, so  gave  her  a review,  and  at  its  close  she 
answered  in  her  own  words  all  such  questions  as, 
What  is  an  island?  Cape?  Bay?  etc.  She  asked  if 
I would  give  her  the  map  to-morrow,  where  the  birds 
canary  live.  Told  her  that  was  very  far  off,  that  other 
little  girls  did  not  know  that  map,  but  that  if  she 
remembered  well  what  I taught  her,  she  would  learn  it 
soon. 

March  3.  She  explains  the  process  of  multiplication 
by  one  figure  very  well,  and  seems  to  understand  it 
perfectly.  Found  difficulty  in  deciding  on  the  best  map 
for  her  to  study,  as  there  is  none  of  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts prepared  for  the  blind,  on  a sufficiently  large 
scale,  and  the  step  from  that  she  has  been  studying  to 
one  on  which  a pin-head  denotes  a town,  and  but  few 


156 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


towns  even  marked  in  this  wa}?-,  is  a very  long  one. 
Decided  upon  an  outline  map.  Commenced  by  telling 
her  where  Boston  and  Charles  River  were,  and  then 
attempted  to  give  her  the  idea  that  the  map  was  so 
small  and  it  had  so  many  miles  on  it,  we  could  not  have 
room  to  put  down  all  that  was  on  the  other  map.  Told 
her  the  number  of  miles  from  Boston  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Hudson  River.  She  said,  “ I think  Miss  W lives 
there,”  and  was  much  pleased  that  she  should  have 
learned  anything  so  far  from  home. 

March  4.  The  monthly  exhibition  day.  Laura  was 
puzzled  to  know  why  there  are  sometimes  three  Satur- 
days, and  sometimes  four  between  them.  It  took  some 
time  to  explain  this. 

March  6.  Gave  her  for  a writing  lesson  the  story  I 
had  read  to  her  three  days  before  She  thought  she 
should  not  be  able  to  remember  it,  but  she  did  well. 
After  writing  she  said,  “Is  this  truth?  I think  not. 
Is  it  lie  ? ” Tried  to  make  her  understand  it  was  not 
wrong  to  write  it,  but  doubt  if  I succeeded  entirely. 
In  writing  she  spelled  the  word  “ bureau”  incorrectly, 
and  when  told  of  it,  said,  u I was  very  unremembered.” 
She  uses  ‘ ‘ forgetful  ” often,  but  this  was  an  effort  to 
coin  a word,  and  she  turned  to  me  for  approbation  of  it. 

March  8.  The  geography  lesson  was  the  towns  on 
the  Eastern  Railroad,  and  also  on  the  Lowell  and 
Providence  roads.  She  enjoyed  tracing  the  routes 
which  the  blind  scholars  take  to  go  to  their  homes. 

The  next  lesson  was  the  towns  on  the  coast  in  Plym- 
outh and  Barnstable  Counties  to  the  extremity  of  Cape 
Cod.  When  told  this  name  she  asked,  “To  eat?” 
The  bays  and  islands,  Martha’s  Vineyard  and  Nantucket, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


157 


interested  tier,  and  she  was  much  amused  at  such  names 
as  “ Ply-mouth,  Barn-stable,”  etc.  She  always  seems 
to  think  of  words  in  their  component  parts. 

March  10.  Not  quite  as  good  a lesson  as  usual  in 
arithmetic.  She  found  an  algebra  type,  and  was  anx- 
ious to  be  able  to  use  it.  Told  her  I would  teach  her 
all  about  it  when  she  was  sixteen.  1,4  And  can  you 
kiss  me  then?  Can  you  kiss  sixteen  young  ladies?” 
She  expressed  much  fear  that  she  should  have  to  give 
up  kissing  and  being  kissed  when  she  was  so  old. 

When  Laura  was  having  a lesson  on  a subject 
in  which  she  was  specially  interested,  she  appeared 
to  be  in  a state  of  great  excitement;  each  new 
thought  was  received  with  a hearty  laugh,  or  a 
kiss  or  a hug  for  her  teacher.  The  desire  to 
express  her  delight  was  irresistible.  The  question 
was  often  asked  by  visitors,  " What  is  it  pleases 
her  so  much  ? ” when  perhaps  it  was  only  a new 
word  which  she  had  learned  from  a sentence 
dictated  by  a stranger,  which  I had  interpreted  to 
her  and  afterwards  explained. 

March  11.  On  some  points  of  etiquette  she  needs 
special  instruction,  and  to* day  the  subject  of  visiting 
came  up.  Sometimes,  of  late,  when  asked  to  call  on  a 
person,  she  has  added,  4 4 And  to  take  tea?  When 
told  of  the  impropriety  of  this,  she  carried  it  to  the 
opposite  extreme,  and  thought  Miss  J.  must  be  to 
blame  when  she  went  to  her  sister’s  without  an  invita- 
tion, and  questioned  whether  it  was  proper  tor  me  to 
pay  any  calls  unless  a special  invitation  to  do  so  was 


158 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


extended ; but  she  at  last  understood  the  propriety  of 
thanking  people  for  the  invitation,  and  that  she  was  not 
to  ask  for  anything  more. 

She  had  a story  read  to  her  to-day  in  which  was  the 
sentence,  “ One  day  John  was  a little  cross.”  As  a 
comment  she  said,  “ I think  the  man”  (who  wrote  the 
story)  “ guessed  that.”  One  of  the  questions  in  arith- 
metic was,  “If  a man  travel  seven  miles  an  hour,  how 
far  will  he  travel  in  eight  days,  when  the  days  are  nine 
hours  long? ” She  did  not  know  the  word  “ travel,”  so 
an  explanation  of  that  and  the  word  “journey”  occu- 
pied some  time.  She  performed  it  correctly,  but  when 
asked  to  explain  it,  did  not  succeed.  Thought  she 
might  do  better  if  I put  myself  in  the  place  of  the  man. 
After  thinking  a moment  she  said,  “You  will  have  to 
go  more  ; you  will  have  to  go  over  the  bridges.”  When 
she  found  the  answer  was  several  hundred  miles,  she 
said,  “ When  will  you  come  back?  ” 

Her  imagination  seemed  to  develop  more  slowly 
than  any  other  power  of  her  mind,  and  this  caused 
her  to  meet  with  difficulties  where  I have  never 
known  any  child  who  could  hear  to  encounter 
them. 

March  13.  Laura  said  on  coming  down  early  this 
morning,  “ I hope  I shall  not  be  cross,  or  make  noises, 
or  fret,  or  deceive,  or  tell  any  wrong  stories  this  week.” 
Taught  her  the  words  “resolution”  and  “resolved,” 
and  she  understood  them  both  very  quickly.  She  asked 
a question,  which  I answered  playfully,  “Yes,  ma’am.” 
Explained  the  use  of  “ ma’am,”  and  also  of  “ sir.”  She 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


159 


asked  what  the  punctuation  marks  meant  in  her  Child’s 
Book.  Gave  her  the  names,  and  attempted  to  explain 
them,  but  it  will  take  much  practice  before  she  succeeds 
in  using  them  correctly.  She  learned  the  words  “ sur- 
prise ” and  “strange.”  Asked  her  for  illustrations, 
and  she  gave  the  sentence,  “ I am  surprised  to  know  I 
shall  go  to  the  State  House.” 

The  exhibition  of  the  pupils  of  the  Institution 
before  the  Legislature  was  always  an  exciting 
episode,  and  although  we  used  the  greatest  care 
to  keep  Laura  calm,  she  sympathized  with  the 
family. 

March  15.  Her  mind  being  entirely  occupied  with 
the  experience  of  yesterday,  I took  the  State  House  and 
its  uses  as  a subject  of  conversation.  She  learned  the 
word  “ representative”  with  much  difficulty. 

March  16.  The  requests  for  Laura’s  autograph  were 
always  numerous,  and  it  was  often  very  irksome  to  her 
to  write.  When  I asked  her  to  prepare  some  this  morn- 
ing which  Doctor  H.  wished  to  use,  she  objected,  and  at 
last  with  reluctance  took  her  pencil  and  wrote  hurriedly 
with  one  hand.  I took  her  hand  in  mine  and  told  her  it 
made  me  feel  sad  to  have  her  do  so,  and  she  soon  said, 
‘ 4 1 feel  bad  in  my  heart,  and  that  makes  me  wrong.” 
After  a moment’s  thought  she  wrote  very  well. 


160 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


CHAPTER  IX. 

March  17.  Having  devoted  six  weeks  to  lessons  on 
written  arithmetic,  and  taught  her  all  the  tables  of 
weights  and  measures  which  would  be  of  use  to  her,  I 
decided  that  she  would  be  better  prepared  to  advance 
further  by  studying  Colburn’s  Mental  Arithmetic  first. 
I supposed  she  would  be  much  amused  at  the  simple 
questions  in  the  first  section ; when  asked  how  many 
hands  she  had,  she  said,  “ Two,  but  I saw  Mr.  Rogers, 
who  has  only  one  ” Her  comments  on  nearly  every  ques- 
tion were  such  as,  “That  boy  was  very  kind  and  gener- 
ous. Why  did  this  boy  buy  much  cake  ? ” etc.,  etc.  She, 
as  usual,  took  every  statement  as  a fact,  and  the  amuse- 
ment was  all  on  my  side.  She  was  much  pleased  at  her 
success  in  the  gymnasium  yesterday,  when  she  swung 
herself  up  seven  rounds  of  the  ladder.  Here  she 
stopped,  and  I lifted  her  down.  She  thought  she 
might  go  to  the  top  to-da}T,  and  wanted  to  know  if  she 
could  jump  to  the  floor.  Showed  her  the  pole  near  by 
for  her  to  cling  to  and  slide  down,  but  she  was  afraid 
to  attempt  it.  I can  talk  to  the  blind  girls  and  encour- 
age them  while  they  are  attempting  new  feats,  but  poor 
Laura  has  both  hands  in  use,  and  it  is  not  a cause  of 
wonder  that  she  is  timid,  but  rather  that  she  accom- 
plishes so  much. 

March  18.  She  enjoys  her  mental  arithmetic,  as  she 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


161 


can  answer  the  questions  so  easily.  She  said,  “ I think 
I am  very  bright  this  morning,  I have  done  many 
sums.”  On  the  map  she  has  learned  all  the  principal 
towns  in  the  east  of  New  England,  and  to-day  learned 
those  between  Worcester  and  the  Connecticut  River.  Her 
memory  is  wonderful,  as  she  rarely  forgets  one  of  the 
names  given  her. 

March  20.  She  performed  thirty  examples,  and  gave 
the  reasons  for  her  work.  This  she  dislikes,  and  says, 
u I never  did  tell  why  before,  and  why  do  you  have  me 
now?”  At  nine  she  brought  “ The  Child’s  Second  Book” 
and  asked  that  she  might  read  to  me.  I found  her  yes- 
terday puzzling  over  it,  and  when  I spoke  to  her,  she 
said,  “ I cannot  read  books  and  know  them  as  you  do.” 
Again  she  had  found  that  unfortunate  sentence  which 
had  so  grieved  her  a year  ago,  and  to-day  it  is  a dis- 
couragement to  me,  for  I supposed  she  would  now  read 
it,  as  she  should,  connectedly,  but  find  I am  mistaken. 
“You  must  not  think  because  you  are  blind,  you  cannot 
learn  as  much  as  other  children  ” Again  she  stops  at 
the  comma  and  says,  “ Cannot  I think?  Why  did  Dr. 
Howe  say  I could  not  ? ” 

March  22.  She  was  puzzled  by  a question  in  arithme- 
tic this  morning,  “ What  will  a gallon  of  molasses  cost 
at  two  cents  a gill  ? ” but  succeeded  at  last  in  doing  it 
without  assistance.  She  enjoyed  a review  in  geography, 
as  I made  a play  of  going  from  town  to  town  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  having  her  tell  what  places  we  would  pass 
through,  having  her  tell  me  also  the  direction  in  which 
she  was  travelling.  It  seems  to  me  that  few  children 
Viake  a geography  lesson  so  completely  their  own  as  she 
does.  She  did  not  appear  well  after  her  walk,  and 
ll 


162 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


said,  “ I must  ask  doctor  why  my  blood  is  cold,  and 
does  not  run  about  and  be  warm  as  J.’s.”  She  found  in 
her  book  the  word  “ syllable.”  I do  not  like  to  tell  her 
she  cannot  understand  a word,  it  makes  her  so  sad,  so 
told  her  what  I could  of  this  way  of  dividing  words,  but 
it  is  so  dependent  upon  the  ear  that  I do  not  think  she 
can  ever  be  taught  it,  so  she  can  use  it. 

March  27.  A lesson  on  halves  which  took  an  hour ; 
but  I hope  the  way  is  prepared  for  thirds,  etc.  When  I 
called  her  to  come  for  a lesson,  she  said,  “I  have  been 
reading  about  God.”  Asked  if  she  understood  all  the 
words ; she  said,  “ No,  I thought  I would  wait  patient 
until  you  were  not  busy.” 

March  30.  Read  the  following  to  her,  11  If  you 
can  buy  a barrel  of  cider  for  four  dollars,  how  much 
can  you  buy  for  one  dollar?”  Her  comments  were, 
“ How  did  the  man  who  wrote  the  book  know  I 
was  here?  ” and  “ I cannot  give  much  for  cider,  because 
it  is  very  sour.”  Fractions  prove  very  puzzling  to  her. 
Our  walk  to-day  was  from  the  Institution  to  the  lower 
part  of  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  round  the  Common  and 
home,  which  took  nearly  three  hours,  but  she  did  not 
seem  tired.  She  asked  how  candy  was  made.  Found 
she  did  not  know  what  raisins  are  made  from,  so  we 
had  a lesson  on  vineyards,  etc.,  and  she  learned  the  new 
word  “ shrivelled.” 

March  31.  When  in  a shop  in  Boston  she  showed 
some  impatience  on  being  checked  in  making  a noise, 
and  perceiving  that  I had  in  my  hand  a bundle  of  mus- 
lin which  I wished  to  keep  smooth,  she  pinched  it  very 
hard.  On  leaving  the  shop  I told  her  I could  not  talk 
with  her  because  she  had  done  wrong,  and  asked  if  she 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


163 


knew  in  what.  “ Yes,  I pinched  your  cloth.”  And  we 
walked  on  silently.  As  we  were  crossing  the  bridge, 
there  was  a sail-boat  so  near,  that  by  extending  her 
arm  I could  put  her  hand  upon  the  sail.  I stopped  to 
let  her  examine  it,  but  she  did  not  talk  about  it.  When 
we  got  home,  she  said,  “Do  you  feel  sad?  Why  did 
you  let  naughty  girl  feel  of  the  boat?”  Told  her  I did 
not  like  to  punish  her,  and  I thought  she  would  want  to 
feel  it  very  much.  This  touched  her  feelings,  and  she 
was  very  sad  and  thoughtful  all  the  forenoon. 

These  little  bursts  of  anger  were  very  slight, 
and  perhaps  many  would  say  it  is  not  just  to  men- 
tion them  at  all.  Were  I writing  of  any  ordinary 
child,  I should  not  do  so,  but  in  giving  these  notes 
to  the  world,  it  seems  to  be  my  duty  to  tell  of 
things  just  as  they  happened  whether  they  were 
large  or  small. 

April  3.  Last  evening  when  walking  with  Laura, 
we  met  Oliver.  She  said  to  him,  “ Laura  is  sick.”  I 
asked  where,  as  I had  not  noticed  it.  “ In  my  head,  I 
studied  much  in  books,  and  thought  very  hard.”  (Sun- 
da}7"  afternoon  when  she  was  left  alone.)  Found  she 
had  been  studying  in  “ Viri  Romae,”  and  she  remem- 
bered several  words,  “ non,  sed,  est,”  etc.,  and  was  anx- 
ious to  know  what  they  meant.  When  told,  she  asked, 
“ Does  Doctor  know  Latin,  and  Jeannette  and  Rogers 
and  Sophia  ? ” And  when  she  found  some  did  not,  she 
was  very  happy.  “Does  God  know  Latin?  Do  you 
know  all  things  like  God  ? ” The  occasional  glimpses 
which  she  gets  of  the  world  of  letters  beyond  discour* 


164 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


age  her  at  first,  and  she  seeks  companions  in  her  igno- 
rance, but  they  serve  in  the  end  only  to  whet  her  curi- 
osity.  She  had  also  found  many  other  new  English 
words  to  ask  about.  u What  is  England?  Is  Doctor 
going  there?  What  does  ‘altered  her  mind’  mean? 
Are  snatch  and  scratch  the  same  ? What  is  education  ? ” 
She  had  an  idea,  from  some  reason  unknown  to  me, 
that  this  was  a French  word.  ‘ ‘ Do  French  people  say 
they  will  education  children?”  Taught  her  the  verb 
“ educate.” 

April  10.  Gave  her  a lesson  on  a large  map  of  the 
New  England  States,  and  she  found  the  towns  upon  it 
with  ease.  At  noon  told  her  she  might  think  of  a sub- 
ject for  our  lesson,  and  when  I returned  she  said,  “Talk 
about  Jupiter.”  She  was  satisfied  when  told  it  was  the 
name  of  a star,  and  asked,  “ What  does  orbit  mean?  ” 
Then  she  talked  of  the  wind ; when  told  that  it  blew 
northeast  and  was  veiy  cold,  and  yesterday  it  was  south 
and  very  warm,  she  asked,  “ Is  the  wind  always  south 
in  summer?  Will  you  teach  me  next  summer  and  win- 
ter, and  after  two  summers?”  “Perhaps  the  Doctor 
will  think  }tou  had  better  go  home,  and  help  your  mother 
make  cheese  and  butter.”  She  showed  much  adroitness 
in  settling  the  moral  questions  which  I knew  would  be 
raised  at  once  by  the  suggestion,  and  answered,  ‘ ‘ Doc- 
tor says  he  wants  me  to  live  with  him,  and  I think  my 
sister  will  help  my  mother.” 

April  12.  She  wished  to  write  a note  of  thanks  to  a 
gentleman  who  had  sent  her  some  candy,  and  came  to 
me  in  trouble  because  she  did  not  know  how  to  address 
it.  “I  cannot  say  My  dear  Mr.  Howard.”  When 
told  she  could  say  simply,  “Mr.  Howard,”  she  was 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


165 


much  relieved.  No  one  had  ever  made  a suggestion  of 
this  kind  to  her,  but  her  delicate  sense  of  propriety 
never  fails  her.  She  had  tried  to  speak  my  name 
with  her  mouth.  I found  the  combination  of  conso- 
nants too  difficult,  and  suggested  that  she  try  to  speak 
44  Mary.”  She  succeeded  very  well,  but  to-day  said,  44 1 
am  little  afraid  to  say  4 Mary/  I think  other  folks  would 
think  it  was  their  name.”  She  asked  if  she  had  been 
very  gentle  this  week.  4 4 Yes,  I think  so.”  But  she  was 
not  satisfied.  44 1 think  I was  a little  cross  yesterday 
in  arithmetic : my  forehead  was  wrinkled.”  She  went 
with  me  to  a shop  to  select  a collar.  Before  going  in  I 
told  her  they  did  not  like  to  have  them  touched  much, 
but  that  she  could  feel  of  the  one  I bought.  She  kept 
her  hands  very  still  for  some  time,  and  then  I showed 
her  one  I liked.  She  said,  44 1 think  I could  find  you  a 
very  pretty  one,”  and  in  a moment  selected  a very  fine 
one.  The  salesman,  wishing  to  know  if  she  would  man- 
ifest any  more  pleasure  at  the  finest  work,  showed  her 
one  of  the  most  costly  he  had.  She  felt  of  it  carefully, 
and  said,  44  That  is  very,  very  beautiful,  and  I think  it  is 
velvet.”  She  had  many  questions  to  ask  about  embroi- 
dery of  all  kinds  to-day. 

April  17.  A question  in  her  arithmetic  lesson  to-day 
was,  “There  is  a vessel  containing  eighty-seven  gal- 
lons, and  by  a cock,  ten  gallons  run  into  it  in  an  hour, 
in  how  many  hours  will  it  be  filled?”  She  said,  44  How 
can  gallons  run  ? ” She  associated  the  word  4 4 run  ” 
with  the  measure  I had  shown  her  when  she  first 
learned  it,  but  when  I added,  44  of  wine  or  water,”  she 
understood  it.  At  noon,  I told  her  she  might  sweep 
ae  stairs  to  help  Ellen.  This  was  quite  a trial  for  her, 


166 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


as  she  is  not  very  fond  of  domestic  work,  and  she 
wanted  a story  read  to  her  at  this  hour,  but  she  came 
out  of  it  nobly.  At  first  she  looked  displeased,  then 
her  countenance  brightened,  and  she  said,  “ Yes,  I can 
sweep  for  money,  because  I am  very  poor  without 
money.”  Told  her  she  must  sweep  them  to  try  to  pay 
Ellen  and  J.  for  doing  work  for  her,  and  that  she  did 
not  do  anything  for  them,  but  they  worked  much  for 
her.  After  a moment’s  thought,  she  kissed  me,  and 
said,  u Yes,  I will  go  and  try  to  do  them  well,  that  I 
may  pay  J.  and  Ellen  for  many  nice  things.”  And  she 
did  them  faithfully,  though  it  occupied  her  two  hours. 

April  18.  Completed  the  third  section  of  Colburn’s 
Mental  Arithmetic.  Her  lesson  in  geography  was  on 
New  Hampshire.  She  is  familiar  with  its  large  towns, 
rivers,  lakes,  and  mountains.  Showed  her  where  her 
mother  lived,  and  talked  about  the  college,  why  called 
Dartmouth,  etc.  Continued  reading  a story  which  was 
commenced  a fortnight  since,  but  she  could  tell  me 
just  where  we  left  it. 

April  20.  Laura  said  to  me  last  eve,  “I  do  not 
think  now,  I dream.”  I supposed  she  was  joking,  and 
took  little  notice  of  it,  but  this  morning  she  asked, 
“ Why  could  I not  think  last  night?  ” “I  think  you 
did.”  “ No,  I only  dreamed,  I did  not  know  anything 
well.”  She  expressed  much  sorrow  about  Doctor’s 
going  away,  and  perhaps  this  was  the  cause  of  her 
peculiar  state. 

April  21.  A beautiful  spring  day,  so  took  Laura 
out  to  the  play -ground  for  a lesson  on  trees ; taught 
her  about  the  evergreens,  and  showed  her  the  buds  just 
swelling  on  the  other  trees.  Then  she  visited  the  pig- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


167 


pen,  tried  to  get  the  cat  to  come  to  her,  and  when  she 
succeeded,  I held  her  so  she  could  feel  her  head,  ears, 
nose,  and  mouth.  She  has  alwa}Ts  before  shrunk  from 
touching  her,  but  she  has  known  of  Julia  Brace’s*  affec- 
tion for  cats,  and  I think  this  made  her  less  timid.  She 
felt  of  its  whiskers,  and  at  once  said  that  was  what  Julia 
meant  by  her  sign  for  a cat.  When  told  its  eyes  were 
green,  she  said,  “ I think  they  are  very  beautiful.” 
She  was  so  happy  that  she  laid  her  plans  for  taking  all 
her  lessons  next  summer  in  the  arbor.  In  geography 
she  surprised  me  more  than  ever,  by  learning  the  names 
and  situation  of  Lake  Champlain  and  four  rivers  run- 
ning into  it,  and  of  about  ten  towns  in  Vermont,  after 
I had  spelled  them  only  once  to  her. 

April  24.  She  asked  for  a lesson  in  the  china  closet, 
that  she  might  learn  the  names  of  different  pieces  of 
china  and  glass.  In  the  fourth  section  of  the  arithmetic 
she  has  done,  in  two  mornings,  over  fifty  such  sums  as. 
“ Three  times  seven  are  how  many  times  four?  ” 

April  25.  Found  her  too  much  engaged  with  her  cares 
as  housekeeper,  which  she  has  assumed  in  Miss  J.’s 
absence,  to  attend  to  a lesson.  She  had  cleared  two 
closets  of  their  contents  and  wished  to  be  allowed  to 
complete  her  cleaning.  She  could  tell  me  in  her  geog- 
raphy lesson  the  names  of  the  cities  through  which 
Miss  J.  passed  in  going  to  New  York. 

April 26.  Laura  said  this  morning, 4 4 My  heart  ached, 
I was  very  much  frightened  last  night.  I do  not  know 
what  made  my  blood  make  a noise.”  Told  her  I 

* This  deaf,  dumb,  and  blind  woman,  whose  home  was  in  Hart- 
ford Aysliun  for  Deaf-Mutes,  bad  been  at  South  Boston  for  some 

Weeks. 


168 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thought  she  dreamed.  “I  did  not  know  that  dream 
could  make  my  heart  afraid.  I put  sheet  over  my  head 
very  quick  ; I trembled  very  much.’,  “ I dream  some- 
times and  am  frightened.”  “ When  your  dream  fright- 
ens you,  do  you  think  you  feel  some  one  walking  ? ” At 
breakfast  she  asked  each  person  she  met,  if  her  dreams 
ever  frightened  her.  “What  shall  I do  if  I am  fright- 
ened?” “Laugh,  to  think  that  you  dreamed.”  At 
nine  she  could  think  of  nothing  else.  “ When  I was 
at  Halifax  with  you  and  Miss  J.,  I came  from  my  bed 
because  I was  frightened.”  Told  her  I sometimes 
dreamed  of  falling.  “ I do  sometimes,  and  then  I make 
a noise  and  jump.  I think  dream  was  very  hard  and 
heavy  and  thick ; it  made  me  grow  quick,  my  blood  ran 
very  hard.”  “ I think  you  dreamed  that  some  one  was 
walking  and  that  frightened  you.”  “ Did  some  one 
walk  ? ” “ No.”  ‘ ‘ Did  you  think  you  heard  some  one  ” 
(here  she  corrected  me  and  said  felt)  “ walk  after  you 
woke,  or  did  you  remember  feeling  them  before  you 
woke?”  “ I felt  them  and  woke  very  quick,  my  eyes 
opened  very  quickly.  What  made  my  blood  run  very 
noise?”  (Here  she  made  a low  noise.)  “I  thought 
something  had  four  legs,  and  it  ran  almost  over  me.” 
She  was  so  much  excited  about  it  that  I tried  to  laugh  it 
off,  but  she  seemed  to  think  it  was  nothing  to  joke 
about.  “ I can  come  to  you  when  I am  frightened?” 
“Yes,  and  I can  wake  you  and  tell  you  it  is  all  a 
dream,  and  you  can  laugh  and  go  to  sleep  again.”  Then  it 
seemed  as  if  she  had  just  remembered  what  her  dream 
was,  for  I had  asked  her  several  times  before,  and 
said,  “I  dreamed  last  night  that  Wight  came  to  my 
room  with  a pig,  and  that  the  pig  ran  down  hill  on  a 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


169 


board  to  my  bed.”  “ Was  this  what  frightened  you?  ” 
“Yes” 

April  28.  She  performed  thirty  examples  in  an 
hour,  such  as  the  following:  “ Eight  times  seven  and 
two  sevenths  of  seven  are  how  many  times  nine  ? ” She 
had  her  first  lesson  on  Maine  ; when  told  the  name  of 
the  capital,  she  said,  laughing,  “Is  it  a little  girl?” 
She  talked  much  of  Doctor’s  wedding,  and  said,  “I 
wanted  to  go  to  see  Doctor  wedding.  Do  ladies  wear 
very  nice  dresses  ? Did  Doctor  wear  very  nice  ? When 
you  are  married  I shall  come  to  your  wedding,  and 
wear  very  nice  silk,”  then  changed  her  sentence,  say- 
ing, “ I meant  if.”  She  sat  still  an  unusually  long 
time,  and  I asked  what  she  was  thinking  about.  “ I 
love  Doctor,  like  Mrs.  Howe.  I love  him  very,  very 
much  ; is  he  my  daughter?  He  said  he  was.”  “ I think 
he  said  you  were  his  daughter,  did  he  not?  ” “ Is  Mrs. 

Howe  my  sister?  ” “ If  Doctor  is  your  father,  then  she 

will  be  your  mother.”  “ No  ; J.  is  mother.  I cannot 
love  Mrs.  Howe  as  I do  J.,  because  I do  not  see  her 
often  ; she  is  a stranger.” 

April  29.  She  went  j^esterday  to  visit  the  steamship 
in  which  the  Doctor  was  to  sail  for  Europe.  She  exam- 
ined the  saloon,  the  tables,  felt  of  the  glasses  in  the 
racks,  and  then  visited  the  state-rooms  and  cabins. 
After  seeing  the  crockery  she  said,  “ I have  seen  cups 
and  saucers  and  plates ; where  are  spoons  and  knives 
and  forks?  Will  you  show  me  where  men  keep  the 
flour  and  molasses  ? ” Bread  and  molasses  is  her  favor- 
ite dish.  Next  she  asked  to  see  where  they  cooked, 
and  wanted  to  know  if  men  could  make  things  good. 
The  cook  happened  to  be  near,  and,  to  prove  his  abil- 


170 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


ity,  gave  her  a cake  ; and  then  she  asked  where  cakes 
stay  (were  kept).  “ Where  do  men  get  milk  to  make 
cakes  ? ” She  was  taken  to  see  the  cow.  Lastly  she 
walked  the  whole  length  of  the  ship,  to  get  an  idea  of 
its  size. 

May  9 . She  was  very  much  excited,  so  tried  to 
interest  her  in  a talk  about  the  weather,  and  why  she 
could  feel  the  storm  from  some  of  the  windows,  and 
not  from  the  others,  but  she  was  unable  to  fix  her  atten- 
tion. She  was  inclined  to  conceal  her  own  sadness  at 
parting  with  Dr.  Howe,  who  sailed  to-day,  and  said  to 
me  when  she  had  been  to  say  good  by,  “ Do  not  be 
very  sad,  I will  make  you  happy.”  I brought  Oliver 
into  our  rooms,  thinking  that  talking  with  him  might 
amuse  her,  and  make  him  feel  more  happy.  She  said, 
“ I will  try  very  hard  to  make  him  happ}^.  He  must 
not  be  sad.”  She  led  him  to  Doctor’s  chamber  to  show 
him  that  all  the  things  were  taken  away,  and  talked 
with  him  till  dinner.  After  this  she  became  more  quiet. 

May  2.  She  completed  an  unusually  long  letter  to 
her  friend,  Miss  Everett.  She  said,  “ I must  write  a 
very  long  letter  to  her,  because  she  has  not  been  here 
for  very  long  time,  and  she  will  want  to  know  about  all 
things,  and  it  will  make  her  happy.”  It  is  much  the 
most  gossiping  letter  she  ever  wrote,  so  I copy  it 
entire : — 

First  op  May. 

My  Dear  Elizabeth  Everett  : 

I want  to  see  you  very  much.  I have  not  seen  you 
for  very  many  months.  You  did  not  write  a letter  to 
me  for  very  long  time.  Why  did  you  not  write  to  me? 
I send  very  much  love  to  you.  I am  sad  that  you  did 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


171 


never  come  to  see  us  last  summer,  to  stay  a few  days. 
Are  you  very  well?  I am  well.  Were  you  sad  not  to 
come  to  S.  Boston?  Mrs.  Morton  has  got  baby  named 
Lucy.  I & Miss  J are  going  to  see  Mrs.  M.  & little 
baby  next  summer  & to  pick  berries.  Dr.  went  to 
New  York  to  see  Miss  Ward  many  times  because  he 
loved  her  very  much.  Last  Saturday  morning  he  went 
to  New  York  to  be  married  Wednesday  evening.  Miss 
Ward  is  married,  — Mrs.  Howe.  Miss  J.  went  to  see 
Dr.  married  Wednesday  evening.  Mrs.  H.  came  with 
her  husband  to  stay  till  Monday.  Before  dinner  they 
are  going  in  ship  to  stay  two  weeks.  I went  to  see 
ship  Friday,  where  (in  which)  Dr.  is  going  away.  I 
went  with  Miss  S.  & Miss  R.  & Miss  W.  & Oliver  & 
Mr.  H.  & Mrs.  S.  to  see  ship,  & cups,  and  saucers,  and 
plates,  & many  glass  tumblers,  & berths,  & other 
things.  I am  very  sad  to  have  Dr.  & Mrs.  Howe  go  & 
stay  many  months,  one  3^ear.  They  will  go  three  thou- 
sand miles,  far  off.  My  very  dear  lame  friend  sends 
much  love  to  you.  Mrs.  Howe  can  talk  with  her  fin- 
gers, she  goes  away  in  May.  Will  you  please  to  write 
a letter  to  me  some  time?  Miss  S.  sends  her  love  to 
you.  Dr.  & Mrs.  Howe  went  away  in  the  ship  Monday. 
They  will  come  next  spring,  very  long.  I went  to 
(visit)  Mrs.  B.  before  dinner  till  night.  I had  a very 
pleasant  time.  I was  happy  there  last  Thursday.  Miss 
S.  teaches  me  five  hours, — to  cypher,  & to  talk,  & 
to  study  geography  well,  & to  write,  & to  read  to  me 
in  books  about  very  pretty  stories.  It  is  vacation  now. 
I want  to  come  to  see  you.  Miss  Davis  is  married, 
Mrs.  Davis  has  gone  to  live  with  her  husband.  All 
the  girls  are  very  well  & good.  Goodbye. 


172 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


It  is  quite  touching  to  see  how  the  thought  of 
Dr.  Howe  as  just  going,  and  then  as  gone,  and 
then  not  to  return  for  so  long  a time,  runs  like  a 
sad  refrain  all  through  the  letter.  Few  children 
would  have  borne  such  trials  as  bravely  as  she 
did. 

May  4.  She  asked  why  I hurried  in  sewing,  and 
when  told  because  I had  much  to  do  and  very  little 
time  to  do  it  in,  said,  “ I can  hem  handkerchiefs  for 
you,”  and  this  afternoon  has  worked  very  diligently  all 
the  time,  though  she  had  work  of  her  own  which  she 
wished  to  do. 

May  5.  She  completed  the  fourth  section  in  arith- 
metic, and  after  that  could  talk  of  nothing  but  the 
vacation.  As  I was  to  be  absent  three  weeks  from  her, 
she  wished  to  be  told  what  she  could  do  every  day,  and 
almost  every  hour.  She  seems  to  prefer  to  lean  on  me, 
rather  than  to  be  independent  as  so  many  girls  of  her 
age  wish  to  be. 

May  31.  Laura  was  very  happy  to  welcome  the 
blind  girls  on  their  return.  She  busied  herself  in  assist- 
ing me  in  arranging  my  room,  and  as  she  knows  the 
place  for  everything  in  my  bureau  drawers,  she  can  be 
very  useful.  She  was  anxious  to  tell  me  of  all  that  had 
happened  in  the  vacation,  and  to  hear  what  I had  been 
doing.  Being  “ anniversary  week,”  we  had  a large 
number  of  visitors,  so  had  only  time  to  ask  questions 
on  the  map  of  New  England.  She  had  just  completed 
it  and  was  very  ready  in  answering  questions  a month 
ago,  and  I was  anxious  to  test  her  memory.  Found 
she  remembered  much  of  it,  and  probably  a few  days  of 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


173 


review  will  bring  it  all  back.  On  returning  from  our 
walk  we  met  in  the  hall  a little  blind  girl  who  was  a 
new  scholar.  Thinking  it  would  please  her,  I stopped 
for  her  to  feel  of  her,  but  she  treated  her  rather  roughly. 
This  afternoon  the  little  girl  sent  her  an  orange.  I said 
that  I thought  she  was  very  kind  and  had  forgiven  her 
rudeness  in  the  morning.  She  made  no  reply,  but  I 
could  see  that  she  appreciated  the  reproof  intended. 

June  1.  She  brought  some  candy  and  said,  “ I want 
you  to  give  them  to  little  Jane,  and  tell  her  I thank  her 
for  the  orange  very  much.”  Found,  in  a review  of  four 
States,  she  had  forgotten  only  three  places.  Some  one 
nad  been  talking  to  her  about  monkeys,  and  she  wished 
to  repeat  to  me  the  stories.  The  way  in  which  they  were 
made  to  throw  down  cocoa-nuts  from  the  trees  amused 
her,  but  the  question  whether  it  was  right  (morally)  for 
the  men  to  throw  stones  at  the  monkeys  was  raised  at 
once. 

She  has  forgotten  more  in  her  arithmetic  than  in  any- 
thing else,  which  I regret,  as  she  is  always  more  easily 
troubled  by  failures  and  enjoys  the  study  less  than  any 
other.  When  discouraged  she  often  says,  “It  is  very 
hard,  I think  I cannot  know  it.” 

It  generally  happened  that  her  times  of  greatest 
trouble  came  very  unexpectedly,  and  when  her  previous 
conversation  would  have  led  me  to  anticipate  an  unusual 
amount  of  self-restraint.  An  example  of  this  occurred 

June  7.  She  asked,  “ Was  I good  all  day  yesterday  ? ” 
“ Nearly  all  day ; you  were  rude  two  or  three  times.” 
“ It  makes  me  sad  in  eyes,  and  something  troubles  me 
when  I am  not  good.”  She  had  commenced  a new  sec- 
tion in  arithmetic  and  was  puzzled  but  in  very  good 


174 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


spirits.  She  tried  unsuccessfully  to  tell  me  how  much  a 
quarter  of  eight  was,  and  said,  “I  do  not  know.”  I 
replied,  as  I always  do  when  she  does  not  take  time,  “ If 
you  think,  you  can  tell  me.”  Instead  of  receiving  it  as 
usual,  she  caught  my  hand  and  twisted  it  very  hard. 
At  first  I thought  it  was  play  and  was  surprised  to  see 
her  face  was  scarlet,  and  that  she  was  in  a passion.  I 
left  my  seat  beside  her  without  speaking,  and  she  sat 
alone  a quarter  of  an  hour.  Then  I went  to  her  to  tell 
her  it  was  time  for  her  to  put  her  room  in  order.  When  I 
went  to  take  her  to  breakfast  she  said,  “ I think  you  do 
not  want  very  angry  girls  to  eat  with  you  ; you  can  bring 
m}T  breakfast,  and  I can  eat  alone.”  Told  her  I liked 
to  have  her  go  with  me.  When  she  came  for  her  next 
lesson,  I asked  her  if  she  felt  happy.  “ No,  I was  very 
angry.  I twisted  your  hand  and  almost  broke  your 
wrist.  Does  it  ache  now  ? ” Told  her  I was  very  sad  that 
she  felt  so,  and  asked  her  if  I was  unkind  to  her.  “ You 
told  me  to  think.”  Explained  why  I said  so,  and  that 
I could  not  teach  her  well  unless  she  took  time  to  think. 
She  said,  “ You  were  kind,  but  I was  ang^.  What 
will  you  do  to  punish  me?”  “ Nothing,  I do  not  want 
to  punish  you.”  “ You  did  punishme  very  much  when 
I sat  alone.”  “If  you  had  been  good  you  would  not 
care  if  I left  you  alone  ; it  is  your  thoughts  that  punish 
you  and  make  you  sad  and  unhappy.”  ‘ ‘ What  will  you 
do  to  punish  me  if  I am  angry  again?  ” “ Nothing.  I 

shall  be  kind  to  you,  and  try  to  teach  you,  but  I am 
afraid  if  you  are  angry  I cannot  love  you  so  much  as 
I do  when  you  are  mild  and  gentle,  and  it  makes  me 
very  sad  to  have  you  so.”  She  wiped  her  tears,  and 
thinking  of  some  work  she  could  do  to  help  Miss  J.,  1 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


175 


sent  her  to  do  it,  hoping  to  change  the  current  of  her 
thoughts.  All  the  rest  of  the  day  she  was  very  affec- 
tionate, and  frequently  said,  “You  are  very  kind  to 
me,”  as  if  trying  to  make  me  forget  the  morning. 

June  8.  She  asked  if  “think,  guess,  suppose,  and 
understand”  are  the  same.  An  hour  was  too  short 
to  make  her  fully  understand  the  difference  ; indeed,  I 
doubt  whether  any  explanations,  illustrations,  etc.,  will 
avail,  but  she  must  learn  their  exact  meaning  as  other 
children  do,  by  having  them  used  constantly  in  conver- 
sation with  her. 

Her  geography  lesson  was  on  the  large  map  of  the 
United  States.  She  was  already  so  familiar  with  New 
England  that  she  soon  adjusted  herself  to  the  new  scale 
of  distances,  etc.,  and  one  lesson  sufficed.  Passing  her 
hand  over  all  the  great  map,  she  said,  “ I cannot  learn 
so  very  much,  I cannot  remember.”  A few  weeks  since 
she  had  a lesson  in  the  play7-ground,  and  to-day  she  felt 
of  what  were  then  little  buds,  and  was  delighted  to  find 
not  only  leaves  but  flowers  on  the  trees  and  plants. 
She  learned  many  new  names. 

June  9.  This  morning  she  did  not  feel  very  friendly 
towards  Mr.  Warren  Colburn ; she  asked.  “ Why  does 
man  put  sums  in  book  for  girls  to  guess  ? ” After 
studying  some  time  on  one  she  said,  “ I am  not  very 
widsom.  What  does  widsom  mean?  To  know  much 
like  Doctor  ? ” Taught  her  the  noun  4 ‘ wisdom  ” and 
the  adjective  “ wise,”  and  encouraged  her  by  telling  her 
that  Doctor  had  to  study  such  sums  when  he  was  a little 
boy,  to  make  him  very  wise.  While  talking  about 
Eastern  New  York  with  the  map  before  her,  she  stopped 
to  ask,  “ Do  you  want  to  see  God?  Do  you  want  Him 


176 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


to  want  you  now?  Does  He  see  us,  does  He  know  wliat 
I say  to  you?  Do  you  think  of  Him?  Do  all  people 
love  God?  How  many  bodies  has  God  made?  Ten 
thousand  billion  ?”  Her  lesson  led  to  the  subject  of 
canals,  and  we  had  a long  talk  about  the  Erie  Canal 
and  Niagara  Falls.  It  might  be  supposed  that  they 
would  be  mere  commonplace  topics  to  her,  and  that  the 
most  vivid  description  could  not  convey  to  one,  who  had 
never  even  seen  water,  the  faintest  idea  of  their  beauty 
and  grandeur.  Just  what  ideas  she  did  receive,  it  is 
impossible  for  us  to  know,  and  also  the  cause  of  the 
excitement  she  manifested  when  told  about  them.  At 
noon  there  was  to  be  a launch  from  a ship-yard  near  by, 
and  we  seated  ourselves  near  a window,  that  I might 
tell  her  all  I could  see.  She  listened  eagerly  to  the 
description  of  the  ship,  its  position,  etc.,  what  the  men 
were  doing,  and  was  much  disappointed  when  told  that 
it  would  not  move,  and  now  they  must  wait  till  the  water 
was  higher  to  launch  it.  She  had  learned  this  word 
to-day,  and  it  was  a very  good  occasion  on  which  to  use 
it.  She  asked,  “ Why  does  God  not  launch  it?  ” 

June  13  She  told  me  she  wished  to  talk  about  her 
teachers,  and  occupied  the  hour  with  reminiscences  of  all 
who  had  ever  taught  her  anything,  what  they  did,  and 
even  expressed  her  opinion  of  how  they  did  it.  In  talk- 
ing of  her  experiences  with  me,  she  asked,  “Were  not 
Doctor  and  J.  wrong  not  to  let  me  come  and  see  you, 
and  stay  with  you  all  the  time,  when  you  were  sick  last 
summer?  If  you  are  sick  again  I must  come,  and  I can 
stay  with  you  and  take  care  of  you,  because  you  teach 
me,  and  I can  be  still,”  This  occasional  assertion  Oj. 
her  rights,  and  the  development  of  the  feeling  of  respon 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


177 


sibility,  show  us  how  fast  the  time  is  approaching  when 
she  will  put  off  the  little  child. 

Another  topic  of  conversation  was  suggested  by  the 
question,  44  Where  do  men  get  water  to  drink?  ” She 
asked,  in  jest,  if  I would  teach  her  300  trillions  of 
years.  I held  up  my  hands  to  express  surprise,  and 
said,  44Yes.”  She  often  begins  with  a joke,  but  as 
soon  as  I answer  in  the  same  way,  she  seems  to  forget, 
and  takes  it  all  as  in  earnest.  She  said  now,  44  Do  you 
play  ? Will  you  live  so  many  years  ? ” On  the  map 
she  completed  New  Jersey  and  crossed  the  Delaware 
to  find  Philadelphia,  which  she  has  desired  to  do  for  a 
long  time,  because  she  has  heard  so  much  about  it 
as  my  home.  It  seems  to  be  best  to  have  points  of 
interest  just  ahead  of  her  studies  in  geography,  instead 
of  showing  her  all  such  as  soon  as  she  takes  the 
map. 

June  15.  She  has  learned  to  do  plain  sewing  very 
neatly,  and  always  assists  in  making  her  own  clothes. 
She  threads  the  needle  by  feeling  the  eye  with  her 
tongue,  and  by  a rolling  motion  conducting  the  thread 
into  it,  as  most  of  the  blind  do.  It  is  some  time  since 
she  had  any  sewing,  and  fearing  she  might  forget  to 
work  well,  I told  her  she  might  do  some  for  me,  when 
she  had  finished  her  knitting.  44  For  money?”  she  asked. 
44  My  sister  works  for  me  because  she  wants  to  oblige  me 
and  to  help  me.”  “I  am  very,  very  poor,  and  want 
money.”  4 4 What  can  you  buy  with  money  ? ” She  could 
not  think  of  anything  she  wanted,  but  said, 44  All  people 
have  money,  Lizzie  B.”  (a  little  girl)  44  has  money.” 
Told  her  that  her  father  gave  Dr.  Howe  money  to  buy 
hef  clothes,  and  it  was  better  for  him  to  take  care  of  it 
8 


178 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


for  her.  She  was  more  willing  to  work,  hut  not  quite 
as  cheerful  about  it  as  I should  like  to  see  her. 

June  20.  She  complained  of  her  eyes,  which  often 
give  her  trouble  saying,  “ My  eyes  are  unstrong.” 
When  doing  her  sums  she  looked  troubled,  and  I said, 
“I  must  get  a flat-iron  to  smooth  your  face.”  She 
laughed  and  asked,  “ Is  it  twisted  or  wrinkled?  Are 
wrinkled  and  tumbled  the  same,  and  jammed  and  tum- 
bled?” 

While  talking  of  the  various  kinds  of  wood,  she  went 
from  room  to  room  feeling  of  different  articles,  and 
seldom  made  a mistake  between  pine,  oak,  and  mahog- 
any. She  was  puzzled  when  feeling  of  a secretary  which 
was  veneered,  noticed  the  difference  at  once,  and  asked 
an  explanation.  She  remembered  a lesson  more  than  a 
year  ago  on  the  various  kinds  of  trees,  and  said  that 
men  cut  down  the  trees  to  make  the  boards.  When 
asked  how  they  knew  which  tree  to  cut  to  make  pine 
or  mahogany,  she  answered,  “ I think  they  guess.” 
Described  to  her  the  difference  in  the  leaves,  bark, 
etc. 

June  21 . A question  in  the  arithmetic  lesson  puzzled 
her  to-day,  and  we  spent  an  hour  upon  it,  but  did  not 
succeed  in  answering  it.  “If  two  men  do  a piece  of 
work  in  six  days,  how  long  would  it  take  four  men  to 
do  the  same?  ” This  was  not  a surprise  to  me,  for  the 
child  who  performs  examples  of  this  kind  without  diffi- 
culty at  first  is  a rare  exception. 

June  22.  For  some  time  it  has  been  very  irksome  to 
her  to  write  specimens  enough  to  satisfy  the  demands 
of  visitors,  and  of  late  this  unwillingness  has  extended 
to  recitations  in  geography.  This  was  so  manifest 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


179 


when  company  was  present  yesterday,  that  it  seemed 
best  to  discuss  the  matter,  and  put  it  before  her  as  a 
duty.  The  argument  that  had  the  most  effect  was 
that  the  blind  girls  always  did  as  they  were  asked  to  by 
strangers,  and  that  if  she  did  not,  they  would  think  she 
could  not  learn  as  well  as  they.  In  her  writing  lesson 
she  was  asked  to  prepare  a very  nice  specimen ; and  to 
(give  more  interest  in  it,  I suggested  that  she  write  a 
| composition  on  the  camel.  This  was  new,  as  her  writ- 
ing previously  has  been  either  in  the  form  of  journal 
entries  or  letters.  She  had  been  much  interested  in  a 
'talk  about  camels,  deserts,  etc.,  and  so  wrote  as  fol- 
lows, in  a very  distinct  hand:  u The  camel  can  go  a 
I very  long  time  without  drinking ; he  can  carry  very 
! heavy  loads  ; he  is  very  gentle  like  a dove  ; he  goes  on 
! very  sandy  ground ; he  carries  people  on  his  back  to 
ride  long.” 

She  suffers  much  from  the  heat,  and  is  so  listless  and 
dull  that  only  conversations  upon  animals  seem  to 
interest  her  in  such  weather  as  this.  Our  subject  was 
lions,  and  she  closed  a long  discussion  by  saying,  “ I 
think  men  could  teach  them  to  be  very  gentle  like 
sheep.” 

June  30.  A man  with  a very  tame  monkey  came  to 
the  house,  and  Laura  was  persuaded  to  put  her  hand 
upon  it,  and  having  overcome  her  first  dread  she  was 
quite  brave  and  enjoyed  feeling  of  him  as  he  performed 
his  tricks.  She  had  many  questions  to  ask  after  he  had 
gone,  especially  as  to  the  manner  of  teaching  monkeys. 
“ Do  ourang-outangs  learn  to  do  such  things?  Why  do 
monkeys  wear  chains  ? His  toes  were  very  long,  why  ? 
When  I gave  him  a fig  he  took  off  his  hat  to  thank  me ; 


180 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


he  did  not  know  that  I could  not  see.”  She  has,  aftei 
three  lessons,  mastered  the  difficulty  in  the  question  on 
work  in  arithmetic. 

July  3.  She  performed  thirty  examples  this  morning, 
but  is  much  troubled  by  the  mosquitoes.  “I  think 
mosquitoes  were  very  hungry,”  she  said.  “ Why  did 
God  make  mosquitoes  to  bite  us  ? Was  He  wrong  ? ” 
A cold  wind  was  blowing,  and  she  asked  if  the  camels 
in  the  menagerie  in  Boston  would  not  have  very  cold 
feet,  because  when  they  were  at  home  they  were  always 
in  hot  sand. 

She  knew  that  the  children  were  planning  for  a holi- 
day to-morrow,  and  asked,  ‘ ‘ Do  they  call  it  Fast  ? ” Told  i 
her  the  programme  for  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of 
July,  and  that  she  might  go  with  me  to  the  grove.  This 
was  a new  word. 

July  5.  She  seemed  to  enjoy  the  day  yesterday  as 
much  as  any  one.  I told  her,  as  she  sat  beside  me,  what 
was  being  done,  and  while  we  were  listening  to  the  ora- 
tion and  poem,  both  of  which  were  by  blind  young  men, 
she  was  very  quiet.  While  going  to  church  she  has 
learned  to  be  perfectly  still.  I found  her  in  a great  frolic 
with  her  doll  this  morning,  and  helped  her  to  carry  it  out 
for  a while,  but  the  promised  visit  to  the  menagerie  soon 
put  everything  else  out  of  her  mind,  and  she  asked 
questions  about  the  animals  continually. 

July  6.  We  spent  four  hours  in  the  menagerie. 
The  keeper  of  the  animals  was  very  kind,  and,  to  my 
surprise,  Laura  was  very  calm.  She  felt  of  the  foot, 
tusks,  and  trunk  of  the  elephant  and  fed  him,  and 
examined  the  saddle.  The  keeper  showed  her  a young 
leopard  which  is  yet  tame,  also  a cockatoo.  Then  I led 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


181 


her  from  cage  to  cage,  telling  what  animals  were  in 
each,  describing  their  nature,  size,  and  appearance. 
After  this  she  asked  for  the  monkeys,  and  we  stood 
beside  their  cages  a long  time,  while  I told  her  all  the 
tricks  they  were  doing.  She  frequently  laughed  aloud. 
We  were  disappointed  in  not  having  a ride  on  the  ele- 
phant, but  the  crowd  began  to  gather,  and  as  Laura 
was  as  much  an  object  of  interest  to  them  as  the  ani- 
mals, we  made  good  a retreat. 

July  7.  A rehearsal  of  the  menagerie  visit.  She 
wished  to  talk  of  the  various  sizes  of  the  animals,  and 
seemed  to  be  classifying  them  in  her  own  mind  accord- 
ingly. In  her  geography  lesson  she  learned  the  rivers 
of  Georgia,  but  thought  they  were  very  hard,  and  that 
she  should  not  remember  them. 

July  8.  She  did  such  sums  as  “Thirty  is  three  tenths 
of  what  number  ? ” very  well,  but  is  unwilling  to  give  the 
explanation,  her  excuse  being,  “It  is  very  long,  and  I 
am  too  weak,  and  it  is  very  hard  for  me.”  Most  chil- 
dren, I find,  object  in  like  manner.  She  has  been  for 
some  weeks  unusually  quiet,  rarely  making  bad  noises, 
iind  in  their  stead  we  hear  her  happy,  ringing  laugh. 
She  has  been  very  patient  in  the  difficulties  of  arith- 
metic, and  these  generally  are  the  greatest  trials  she  has 
in  her  studies.  She  is  unwilling  to  be  helped  over 
them,  but  is  determined  to  conquer  them  herself,  and 
thus  a mental  conflict  arises,  which  is  very  likely  to 
show  itself  in  irritability,  extending  sometimes  to  other 
things,  especially  if  she  has  to  leave  her  work  unfin- 
ished at  the  expiration  of  the  lesson  hour. 

July  11.  While  talking  she  stopped  suddenly  and 
said,  “ Something  moves  in  my  side ; it  is  like  quick- 


182 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


silver.”  She  had  been  shown  some  yesterday,  and 
played  with  it  on  a plate.  When  in  her  geograph}^,  I 
spelled  “ Mississippi”  to  her,  she  said,  “ I think  it  is  a 
very  silly  name  so  many  doubles  and  i s in  it.”  She 
did  not  approve  of  the  word  “ Alabama”  either. 

July  12.  Laura  wanted  me  to  walk  to  Boston  with 
her,  and  as  I had  been  ill  I told  her  I must  ask  Doctor 
F.  if  I might  go  out.  That  I should  be  under  the 
direction  of  any  one  seemed  to  be  a new  thought  to 
her,  and  she  followed  it  out  by  questions  to  see  if  dis  • 
obedience  in  my  case  would  lead  to  similar  results  as 
in  her  own.  u What  would  you  do  if  he  said  no,  but 
you  did  not  mind  him  and  went?  Would  you  be  wrong 
and  silly  and  deceive  him?  Would  you  cry?  Could  you 
talk  with  me  when  you  were  very  wrong,  and  where 
would  you  stay  alone  ? ” In  geography  she  was  much 
amused  at  finding  Providence  Island  on  the  coast  of 
Florida,  remembering  that  Providence  city  is  in  Rhode 
Island. 

July  14.  For  a week  Laura  had  had  a visit  to  her 
former  teacher,  Mrs.  Morton,  in  prospect,  and  this  morn- 
ing she  surprised  me  by  showing  me  how  she  had  been 
spending  her  spare  moments.  I found  that  she  had 
looked  over  all  her  clothes  ver}r  carefully  to  see  that 
everything  was  in  order,  and  had  exercised  much  in- 
genuity in  repairing  the  old  ones.  This  being  done,  she 
wished  to  do  the  same  for  me. 

July  15.  She  had  a sum  about  a pole  which  was 
partly  under  water,  etc.,  and  her  old  difficulty  came  up 
again.  I supposed  she  understood  it  long  ago.  “ Did 
the  man  see  the  pole?  Did  he  think  of  it?  ” (with  her 
usual  gesture  of  rapping  her  forehead.)  “Is  this  a 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


183 


story  ? ” The  explanation  of  the  difference  between  a 
sum  and  a story  occupied  a long  time. 

July  17.  One  of  the  blind  girls  died  last  week,  and 
we  thought  it  best  to  say  nothing  to  Laura  about  it,  but 
some  of  the  family  spoke  of  it  to  her,  and  she  met  me 
this  morning  saying,  ‘ 4 Betsy  is  dead.  Why  did  she  die  ? ” 
44  She  was  very  sick.”  “Where?”  “In  throat  and 
lungs.”  4 4 And  God  was  ready  for  her  ? ” Did  Betsy  try 
to  breathe  again  ? Why  did  you  not  tell  me  last  Wednes- 
day ? ” 4 4 1 thought  it  would  make  you  sad  to  know  she 
was  so  sick.”  “ Why  did  Doctor  want  to  tell  me  about 
Orrin,  because  he  wanted  to  teach  me  and  make  me 
know  better  ? ” *She  remembers  that  Doctor  wished  to 
teach  her  himself,  and  so  has  asked  me  few  questions. 
She  has  not  been  as  much  excited  as  she  was  at  the  time 
of  Orrin’s  death. 

In  geography  we  have  had  an  entirely  new  experience. 
I never  knew  her  to  require  to  be  told  any  names  more 
than  twice  since  she  began  the  study,  but  this  morning 
I had  to  tell  the  rivers  and  towns  in  Tennessee  and  Ken- 
tucky for  the  third  time.  What  there  is  peculiar  in  them 
I cannot  see.  Reviewed  her  on  the  Eastern,  Middle, 
and  Southern  States,  and  she  did  remarkably  well, 
showing  that  it  was  caused  by  no  fatigue  of  mind. 


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LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  X. 

July  18.  Our  journey  to  Halifax,  Mass.,  took  nearly 
all  the  day,  as  we  were  obliged  to  wait  a long  time 
for  a stage  at  Stoughton.  Laura  was  very  quiet,  and 
worked  industriously  while  we  waited.  She  was  much 
amused  at  our  tete-a-tete  dinner  at  the  hotel.  She  asked 
what  the  waitress  said  to  me.  Told  her  she  asked  if 
we  wanted  anything.  This  happened  to  be  a new 
form  of  expression,  and  must  be  explained.  “ Did  you 
tell  her  yes  or  no?”  “ No.”  After  this  she  perceived 
that  I had  some  pudding  brought  me,  and  a question 
of  my  veracity  was  raised,  which  took  most  of  the  after- 
noon to  settle.  When  we  stopped  to  water  the  horses 
she  asked,  “ Do  both  horses  put  their  heads  in  one 
pail  ? How  does  he  know  when  they  want  water  ? If 
he  hold  water  and  make  horses  put  their  heads  down, 
do  they  not  have  to  drink  when  they  do  not  want 
water?  ” 

It  may  seem  to  those  accustomed  to  teach 
children  with  all  their  senses,  who  acquire  knowl- 
edge of  such  things  intuitively,  that  these  questions 
would  be  tedious  to  answer,  but  in  justice  to  my 
pupil  I must  say  that  I doubt  if  any  teacher  ever 
had  a work  of  such  interest,  and  although  its  very 
intensity  drew  heavily  upon  the  nervous  energy, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


185 


yet  there  could  never  arise  a feeling  of  impatience 
at  questions  so  earnestly  asked. 

The  pleasure  of  teaching  was  equal  to  that  of 
being  taught,  and  the  reply  could  always  be  given, 
with  truth,  to  the  remark  so  frequently  made  by 
visitors,  "How  much  patience  it  must  take  to 
teach  her,”  " Not  more  than  to  teach  others.” 

July  19 , Halifax.  Laura’s  happiness  is  so  great  this 
morning  that  she  does  not  know  what  to  do  to  express 
it.  She  remembers  the  places  of  things  she  has  seen 
here  before,  and  leads  me  to  closets  where  they  are,  to 
ask  about  them.  She  knows  that  now  she  can  under- 
stand better  than  when  here  a j^ear  or  more  ago.  A 
collection  of  shells  interests  her  much.  She  enjoys  the 
smoothness  of  some  artifically  polished,  and  the  strange 
shapes  of  others,  and  when  shown  one  very  thin,  she 
said,  “ I think  the  fish  liked  to  keep  cool.”  Her  only 
trouble  seems  to  be  to  know,  “ Why  did  God  make 
troublesome  mosquitoes?”  Gave  her  a lesson  in  the 
woods,  and  showed  her  how  men  could  distinguish 
between  oak  and  pine.  Some  time  ago  she  said  she 
thought  they  guessed,  but  she  soon  learned  now,  so  she 
could  tell  each  tree.  Showed  her  the  different  kinds  of 
pine,, and  the  cone  containing  seeds.  She  wished  to 
feel  every  tree,  and  expressed  great  surprise  when  told 
that  I could  see  everywhere  around  nothing  but  trees. 

July  20  Another  lesson  on  shells ; among  them 
found  a snake-skin,  and  this  opened  an  entirely  new 
subject  to  her.  In  the  woods  gave  a lesson  on  the 
different  parts  of  a tree.  Showed  her  a beech-tree  ; she 
admired  the  leaf  very  much,  and  asked,  “ Why  did 


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LAURA  BRIDGMAN '. 


you  not  show  it  to  me  yesterday?”  It  pleased  her 
when  I had  to  confess  it  was  because  I did  not  know  it 
n^self  yesterday.  When  told  a dog  was  sick,  she 
asked  Mrs.  M.,  “How  can  you  know  when  a dog  is 
sick?”  “ Just  as  I know  when  you  are  sick.”  “ Do 
dogs  look  pale  ? ” When  she  had  forgotten  something 
she  said,  “ I am  very  forgetful ; my  thoughts  waste.” 

July  21 . She  had  some  more  examples  in  arithmetic 
about  work,  and  found  very  little  difficulty  in  them. 

July  22.  Finished  the  sixth  section,  and  commenced 
on  miscellaneous  examples,  which,  she  says,  “ I think 
are  very  hard  for  me.” 

In  this  opinion  she  entirely  agrees  with  a little  pupil 
whom  I taught  some  years  later,  who  said  that  all  were 
very  easy  “ except  the  questions  that  lady  asks,  Mis — 
Cellaneous.” 

A lesson  in  the  barn  taught  her  many  new  words, 
“rake,  hoe,  axe,  saw,”  etc.  She  asked  me  to  show 
her  “the  horses’ things,  bits  and  shaders”  (meaning 
blinders),.  She  had  learned  about  these  in  the  stable 
at  home.  She  enjoys  gathering  cherries. 

July  24.  She  was  much  pleased  to  examine  the 
horse  with  the  side-saddle,  and  to  feel  the  process  of 
mounting  for  a ride,  my  position  on  the  horse,  manner 
of  holding  the  reins  and  whip.  On  my  return  she  asked 
questions  about  the  ride,  etc.,  for  an  hour.  She  has  all 
her  lessons  as  when  at  home,  and  the  good  effects  of 
change  of  air  and  scene  are  visible  in  her  great  buoy- 
ancy of  spirit. 

July  26.  To  a question  in  arithmetic  she  answered, 
“ Fourteen  sheeps,”  and  when  corrected,  said,  “ No,  it 
is  one  sheep,  two  sheeps.”  I think  she  is  unwillingly 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


187 


convinced  of  her  error,  and  will  probably  contest  the 
point  again.  Took  her  to  a place  where  materials  for 
building  a house  were  collected.  She  learned  about 
boards,  shingles,  laths,  etc.  A little  farther  on  found 
some  trees  which  had  been  sawn  into  planks  and  piled 
as  they  were  cut,  which  gave  her  a very  correct  idea  of 
how  we  get  planks  and  boards.  A favorite  amusement 
when  we  are  walking  is  to  ask  me,  44  What  do  you 
see  ? ” stopping  and  holding  my  hand  to  give  me  time 
to  look,  and  if  she  thinks  I do  not  give  her  objects 
enough  she  says,  44  Look  more.”  We  spent  two  hours 
in  this  way  this  morning,  stopping  to  show  her  every- 
thing new,  and  had  a very  profitable  lesson,  and  a walk 
of  six  miles.  She  wanted  to  ask  if  C.  and  L.,  two  little 
boys  in  the  family,  were  alike,  and  said,  44  Are  they 
alike,  I mean  in  body  ? ” and  then  moved  her  hand  over 
her  face.  I asked  if  she  wanted  to  know  if  they  looked 
alike.  44  Yes.”  Told  her  they  were  very  unlike. 
4 4 How  do  you  know  they  are  unlike  ? ” 4 4 Are  their  hands 
alike  ? ” 44  No ; L.’s  are  soft  and  fat,  but  C.’s  are  tough 
and  rough.”  Talking  of  mosquitoes  she  said,  fretfully, 
44 1 do  not  want  them  to  touch  me  again  ” I replied, 
44  You  can  ask  them  to  please  to  let  you  alone.”  44  And 
what  shall  we  do  if  they  do  not  mind  ? ” She  then 
raised  a question  about  our  right  to  kill  them,  which  I 
settled  by  telling  her  that  we  could  not  talk  to  them 
and  tell  them  it  was  wrong  to  trouble  us,  and  so  killed 
them. 

July  28.  An  order  for  specimens  of  writing  obliged 
us  to  take  time  from  other  lessons  to  attend  to  it.  One, 
which  I thought  very  good,  read  as  follows  : 44 1 went 
to  Boston  with  Oliver  & very  many  folks,  to  see  the 


188 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


caravan.  In  the  tent  I saw  the  elephant’s  tusks,  & 
legs,  & trunk,  & foot ; his  skin  was  very  rough.  I gave 
him  a very  great  many  pieces  of  apple.  I put  them  in 
his  trunk,  he  moved  it  to  take  them,  and  put  in  his 
mouth.  We  went  into  the  saddle  ; then  I saw  a very 
pretty  parrot,  & a very  gentle  leopard  — he  was  very 
little  and  prett}^.” 

July  29.  Reviewed  the  lessons  of  the  week,  and 
when  talking  of  the  trees  she  brought  a pine  cone  to 
ask  why  it  had  opened  so  much  since  she  brought  it 
into  the  house.  When  told  it  was  dying,  she  said,  “ It  is 
dead.  Can  God  make  it  grow  again?”  Explained  to 
her  how  the  seeds  fell  into  the  ground  and  then  the 
trees  grew  up  from  them,  and  other  cones  grew  with 
more  seeds,  but  this  old  cone  was  good  for  nothing  and 
thrown  away.  At  dinner  she  moved  her  hand  through 
the  air,  and  asked,  “ When  we  do  so,  do  we  cut  the 
air?”  Talked  about  ribbon,  and  asked  if  she  knew  of 
what  it  was  made.  More  than  a year  ago  she  had 
learned  something  about  it.  She  replied,  “ Silk.”  “ On 
what  does  silk  grow?”  “The  silk-worm  makes  it.” 
“Do  you  think  the  silk-worm  makes  the  ribbon?” 
“No.”  She  told  me  about  “ the  ball”  the  silk- worm 
made  to  wind  his  silk  upon,  and  asked,  “ Why  do  they 
have  very,  very  nice  cotton- wool?  ” She  looked  much 
troubled  when  she  found  her  feeling  had  deceived  her, 
and  that  it  was  silk,  not  cotton,  and  said  sadly,  “ I 
think  I could  not  know  by  feeling.” 

Aug.  3.  Lesson  to-day  was  multiplication  of  num- 
bers from  twelve  to  twenty,  mentally,  which  she  per- 
formed readily.  In  her  hour  for  conversation  she  asked 
why  there  was  so  much  work  about  the  room.  It 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


189 


belonged  to  a company  of  ladies  who  were  assisting 
the  Fall  River  sufferers,  and  I thought  it  a good 
opportunity  to  give  her  a lesson  on  it.  Told  her  how 
much  the  fire  burned,  and  then  of  the  poor  people  who 
had  no  home  or  clothes.  She  seemed  unable  to  under- 
stand its  full  extent,  for  she  said,  “ The  fire  did  not  burn 
the  chambers  ? ” When  told  what  the  ladies  were  sew- 
ing, and  how  kind  they  were  to  assist  the  poor  people, 
she  said,  “ I think  the  men  must  go  out  in  the  woods 
where  I was  with  you,  that  are  very  thick,  and  cut 
much  wood,  and  send  to  the  poor  people,  because  they 
will  be  very  cold  when  it  is  cold  weather.  What  will 
they  do  before  they  have  more  houses  ? ” In  geography 
she  has  completed  the  States,  the  boundaries,  capitals, 
rivers,  and  towns ; now  I shall  go  over  them  again, 
teaching  her  the  productions,  climate,  objects  of  interest, 
etc.  The  last  lesson  of  the  day  was  given  in  the  stage- 
coach, on  the  subject  of  horses.  She  alwa}rs  asks 
their  color,  name,  disposition,  and  man}7  other  partic- 
ulars. In  reply  to  some  trivial  question,  I replied, 
“ I do  not  know.”  She  said,  “ God  knows,  we  can  ask 
him  when  we  go  to  him.”  She  was  feeling  very  sad  in 
leaving  Halifax  and  her  dear  friend  Mrs.  Morton. 

Aug.  5.  Completed  the  seventh  section  of  Colburn’s 
Mental  Arithmetic. 

Aug.  8.  The  blind  - children  were  all  going  on  a 
berrying  excursion,  and  no  one  was  to  be  left  at  home. 
Sol  offered  my  services  as  housekeeper,  thinking  I could 
make  it  quite  as  profitable  to  Laura  as  a regular  lesson 
would  be.  After  breakfast  told  her  we  must  wash  the 
dishes,  and  she  went  to  assist  me  very  willingly. 
During  the  day  she  had  many  opportunities  for  use- 


190 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


fulness,  and  the  day  with  its  unusual  lessons  was  not  a 
lost  one. 

Aug.  9.  Forty  sums  in  reducing  mixed  numbers  to 
improper  fractions.  Told  her  a story  about  the  way 
the  elephants  crossed  Bristol  Ferry ; one  went  in  a 
boat,  but  the  other,  refusing  to  obey  orders,  swam 
across.  She  talked  an  hour  about  it ; asked  if  the  ele- 
phants touched  the  ground  under  the  water,  and  when 
told  they  swam  on  top  of  it,  she  asked,  ‘ ‘ How  can 
elephants  go  so,  when  they  are  very  large  and  heavy  ? 
Do  not  steamboats  touch  the  ground  when  they  are 
heavy?”  Next  came  questions  like  these:  “If  the 
elephants  would  not  mind,  were  they  wrong?  ” She  had 
noticed  the  children  had  bad  coughs,  and  was  told  the 
name  “ whooping-cough,”  but  did  not  believe  it  could 
come  if  they  had  not  taken  cold.  Sitting  beside  me 
one  day  she  perceived  I held  my  breath  for  a long  time, 
and  was  very  much  frightened,  and  said,  “Did  you 
almost  die  ? Your  breath  stopped.”  She  is  very  fond  of 
playing  the  nurse,  and  has  many  suggestions  of  remedies 
to  make.  One  day,  after  exercising  in  the  gymnasuim, 
she  found  that  my  hands  were  hot  and  swollen.  Her 
sympathies  were  much  excited.  She  brought  a silver 
pencil-case,  bottle,  key,  and  everything  cold  that  she 
could  think  of  for  me  to  hold.  Then  a bright  thought 
struck  her,  and  she  led  me  to  an  iron-bound  trunk,  say- 
ing,If  you  put  your  hands  on  this,  I think  you  will 
be  better.”  A lesson  on  commerce,  which  was  a new 
subject. 

Aug.  11.  Reducing  improper  fractions  to  mixed 
numbers  gave  her  some  trouble. 

When  she  has  been  called  in  the  morning  lately,  we 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


191 


have  found  her  dressing.  Asked  her  how  she  knew 
when  to  get  up.  “I  put  my  hand  on  the  door  to  feel 
it  shake.”  “Do  you  get  up  to  go  to  the  door?” 
“No,  the  door  that  is  by  my  bed.  I put  my  finger  in 
the  key -hole,  and  if  the  girls  are  up  it  shakes.  Who 
jumps  and  slams  the  door  in  the  morning?  Why  do 
girls  open  and  shut  doors  in  the  night  ? ” 

Her  own  room  was  in  a remote  corner  of  the  house, 
quite  removed  from  the  other  sleeping-rooms,  and  we 
should  hardly  perceive  with  our  ears  the  noises  which 
she  speaks  of  feeling. 

Aug.  12.  She  overcame  the  difficulties  in  her  arith- 
metic and  said,  “ I think  I was  very  dull  not  to  know 
before.”  She  has  had  a lesson  on  the  use  of  the  period. 
To  show  how  many  lessons  will  be  required  before  she 
can  be  taught  to  punctuate  properly,  we  give  below 
her  account  of  a story  which  was  read  to  her  yesterday, 
with  her  punctuation : — 

“Little  George’s  mother  is  very  poor,  instead  of 
having  bright  coalfires.  she  has  dry  sticks  to  burn.  So 
she  sent  George  two  miles,  to  try  to  get  as  much  woods 
as  he  could.  After  he  had  done  work  very  hard,  the 
sun  was  high  over  his  head,  he  was  hot  and  tired  and 
hungry,  he  wanted  some  dinner,  so  he  had  bread  and 
butter,  he  went  to  find  cool  place,  and  found  a stone 
with  green  moss  by  the  brook,  then  he  went  to  look  for 
very  large  leaf  to  dip  off  the  water.  His  stone  was  his 
taole.  he  sat  on  bank,  brook  wras  his  wine-cellar. 
Then  he  heard  birds  sing  very  loudly  in  the  trees.  He 
went  to  pick  some  wild  red  strawberries,  and  put  leaf 
in  his  cap  to  keep  them  nice,  he  thought  that  they 
were  very  ripe  and  good,  he  wanted  half  but  he 


192 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thought  that  he  would  save  many  berries.  When  it  was 
dark  then  he  went  home,  then  his  mother  called  him 
to  come,  he  ran  and  put  the  woods  in  her  washhouse. 
Then  he  gave  her  some  berries  and  she  said  ‘ did  he 
save  them  for  his  sick  mother  ? to  make  her  better  ? ’ she 
was  very  glad,  he  felt  very  happy  to  have  her  eat  them.” 

Aug.  14.  Laura  completed  to-day  the  eighth  section 
in  arithmetic,  in  five  months  from  the  time  she  com- 
menced the  book.  The  word  “ merrily”  was  the  first 
topic  of  conversation,  and  then  she  wished  to  know  if 
we  said  “more,  morest,”  and  “much,  muchest,”  and  whj 
not?  Used  the  word  “complain,”  supposing  she 
understood  it,  but  found  it  was  a new  word. 

Aug.  15  Her  lesson  was  multiplying  fractions  and 
reducing  the  result  to  a mixed  number.  She  surprised  me 
by  doing  the  examples  without  any  trouble.  While  at 
work  with  her  types,  she  wiped  her  eyes  several  times, 
at  last  she  said,  “ My  eyes  are  very  vexatious  this 
morning.”  This  is  a word  she  has  lately  learned ; it 
pleases  her  much,  so  she  uses  it  on  many  occasions.  A 
lady  visited  the  school  who  wore  unusually  thickly  lined 
sleeves ; this  she  noticed  at  once  and  said,  “ The-lady 
must  live  in  Africa,  and  then  she  will  not  have  to  wear 
such  thick  clothes.”  At  three  o’clock  this  morning 
Laura  was  found  playing  with  her  cups  and  saucers. 
When  I asked  her  why  she  got  up  in  the  night  to  play, 
she  said,  “ Jennie  is  sick,  and  I was  giving  her  medi- 
cines.” She  carries  out  a play  with  a doll  further  than 
I ever  knew  any  other  child.  Everything  she  has  ever 
known  done  for  a sick  person  is  tried  upon  the  doll. 
She  is  moved  from?  one  bed  to  another  and  as  carefully 
bolstered  up  as  if  she  were  a child. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


193 


Aug.  18.  We  talked  about  Indians,  their  manner  of 
living,  wigwams,  color.  She  asked  about  the  people  of 
Africa,  and  when  told  they  were  black  asked,  “ Why 
did  God  make  some  people  black?”  Told  her  they 
lived  in  Boston  before  the  white  people  came  from  Eng- 
land, and  their  name  for  it.  She  enjoys  a lesson  on  such 
a subject,  it  gives  her  so  many  new  ideas.  A question 
in  geography,  which  I asked  without  a thought  of  puz- 
zling her,  occupied  most  of  the  hour  in  the  explanation : 
u Which  of  the  New  England  States  has  no  sea-coast?  ” 

Tried  the  experiment  of  reading  “ The  Spider  and 
the  Fly  ” to  her.  Transposed  some  of  it  into  prose  and 
read  very  slowly,  explaining  such  words  as  she  might 
not  understand,  and  told  her  it  was  a story  in  which  the 
man  who  wrote  it  played  that  the  spider  and  the  fly 
could  speak.  She  was  amused  at  the  idea  and  retained 
it  some  time,  but  at  last,  with  a look  of  surprise,  said, 
“ Did  fly  say  so?”  It  seemed  tome  that  she  under- 
stood it,  but  the  proof  will  be  to-morrow. 

Aug.  19.  She  failed  entirely  in  telling  the  story 
of  yesterday. 

Aug.  21.  Bead  it  to  her  very  carefully  again,  and 
asked  her  to  tell  it  to  me.  She  makes  a strange  mix- 
ture of  conversational  and  narrative  style,  but  gets  a 
pretty  good  idea  of  it.  She  has  found  a toy  horse,  and 
taken  her  doll  from  bed  to  have  her  take  a ride,  saying, 
very  seriously,  “ I think  she  will  be  much  better,  for 
riding  horseback  will  make  her  strong.”  She  had  a 
very  important  question  to  ask,  “ Do  the  negroes  wash 
their  hands?  Because  black  does  not  get  dirty  very 
quick,  and  I thought  they  need  not  wash  their  hands 
very  often.” 


13 


194 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


Aug.  23.  Tenth  section.  She  was  a little  puzzled 
at  first,  but  I gave  her  some  cards  to  cut  to  illustrate 
the  principle,  and  she  did  twenty-five  examples. 
Talked  with  her  about  Niagara  Falls.  When  I told 
her  about  them  some  months  ago,  she  understood  that 
the  stones  fell  constantly  with  the  water.  When  told 
of  the  roaring  noise  they  made,  she  said,  “ Can  you 
hear  it?  Try  and  see.”  Mrs.  W.,  her  friend,  is  in 
Saratoga,  and  she  asked,  “ Can  she  hear  them?  Can 
my  mother  in  Hanover  hear  them?  Why  did  not  Dr. 
Howe  go  to  hear  them  ? Why  did  not  he  tell  me  about 
them?”  “Because  when  he  went  away  you  did  not 
know  about  many  places,  and  could  not  have  under- 
stood what  he  said  if  he  had  tried  to  tell  you,  but  when 
he  comes  home  you  can  ask  him.”  She  looked  much 
surprised  and  said,  “ He  will  be  very  busy  writing  very 
much  and  he  cannot  talk,  and  he  will  not  be  in  this 
school-room  so  I cannot  ask  him.”  Told  her  she 
could  ask  him  as  well  in  the  study  as  in  the  school- 
room ; but  she  seemed  to  think  it  would  be  necessary 
for  him  to  have  the  map  before  him  in  order  to  talk 
about  the  Falls. 

Aug.  24.  In  a section  in  arithmetic  which  generally 
puzzles  children,  she  did  forty  sums  such  as  “One 
third  of  two  is  how  many  thirds  of  one  ? ” She  was 
doubtful  about  the  difference  between  “better”  and 
“ best.”  As  she  had  used  them  a long  time,  I sup- 
posed she  understood  them  perfectly.  She  told  me, 
“ J.  says  if  I am  gentle  and  good,  Mrs.  Howe  will 
send  me  a doll  with  a strange  kind  of  a dress ; you 
will  not  know  about  it.”  When  talking  about  its  name, 
she  thought  she  should  call  it  Miss  Dewey,  but  after 


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195 


a moment’s  thought  said,  “ No,  doll  must  be  Julia 
Ward.” 

Aug.  27.  She  brought  “ The  Child’s  Second  Book” 
and  asked  me  to  explain  “ possess,”  “ general  descrip- 
tion,” and  lastly  the  plate  of  the  Solar  System,  at  the 
end  of  the  book.  Here  was  a work  indeed  for  me  to 
begin  upon,  but  after  reflection  I decided  that  she  could 
be  told  much  that  would  be  both  interesting  and  profit- 
able to  her.  Commenced  by  telling  her  the  great  distance 
of  the  sun  from  us,  of  its  size.  “ Can  we  go  there?  ” 
was  her  first  question.  Asked  her  how  she  thought 
we  could  go.  “In  boats.”  “Do  you  think  there  is 
water  all  the  way  to  the  sun  ? ” “No,  go  in  cars.”  “Is 
there  land?”  “ No,”  and  pointing  to  the  sun  she  said, 
“It  is  air,”  and  was  puzzled  to  know  what  we  could  do. 
I hoped  she  would  suggest  a balloon,  as  I had  given 
her  a lesson  upon  them,  but  she  evidently  did  not  under- 
stand much  about  them,  and  so  they  did  not  occur  to  her. 
“ Can  flies  go  up  to  the  sun  ? Can  God  be  at  the  sun  ? ” 
She  was  anxious  for  me  to  begin  the  explanation  of  the 
plate,  but  I told  her,  before  she  was  ready  for  that,  I 
must  tell  her  of  many  things.  Talked  of  the  size  of  the 
stars,  how  large  they  appeared  to  us.  The  idea  that  dis- 
tance made  objects  look  smaller  was  new  to  her,  and  she 
was  filled  with  wonder  when,  to  exemplify  it,  I told 
her  if  I were  to  sit  in  my  room  and  see  her,  walking  to 
the  Point,  she  would  grow  smaller,  and  would,  when 
there,  look  like  a ?ery  little  girl.  From  this,  she  could 
understand  why  the  moon  should  look  so  much  larger 
than  the  sun  because  so  much  nearer ; told  her  of  the 
planets,  their  names,  and  on  which  we  lived  ; she  asked 
what  the  lines  were  for  on  the  plate.  Forgetting  that 


196 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


she  was  just  receiving  her  first  idea,  I made  too  long  a 
step  and  said  they  were  to  show  where  the  planets 
moved  round  the  sun,  and  that  it  took  the  earth  three 
hundred  and  sixty -five  days,  so  we  called  it  a year.  She 
said,  “I  think  then  Louisa’s  father”  (a  sea  captain) 
44  went  to  the  sun,  he  is  gone  three  years.”  This  showed 
how  little  she  appreciated  what  had  been  said.  When 
she  found  I had  been  teaching  her  astronomy  she  said, 
4 4 Will  you  please  write  and  tell  Doctor  what  I study  ?” 

Aug.  29.  She  was  impatient  to  resume  the  subject 
of  yesterday.  4 4 Are  there  people  in  the  sun  ? ” When 
told  we  could  not  know,  she  said,  44  We  can  ask  God 
when  we  go  to  heaven.”  44  Can  I see  when  I go  to 
heaven,  to  see  the  sun?”  Talked  about  the  motions  of 
the  earth.  When  she  learned  that  it  was  turning  round 
all  the  time,  she  said,  44  When  I am  dizzy  then  I feel  the 
floor  go  round.”  To  explain  the  cause  of  day  and 
night,  I put  a pin  into  a ball  of  yarn  to  represent 
Boston,  supposed  the  fire  in  the  grate  to  represent  the 
sun,  and  by  revolving  the  ball  let  her  see  that  one  side 
must  be  in  the  dark.  She  seemed  to  understand  this. 

Aug.  31.  The  lesson  was  upon  the  difference  in  time 
between  places,  illustrated  by  a second  pin  to  represent 
London.  She  soon  learned  to  tell  what  the  time  was 
in  the  one,  having  it  given  in  the  other.  In  her  geog- 
raphy lesson,  and  when  apparently  very  happy,  she 
took  both  hands  from  the  map,  and  with  a look  of 
despair  said,  44  Are  you  not  very  tired  of  living  so  many 
years?  ” 44  No,  are  you?  ” 44  Yes,  I want  to  go  to  God 
in  heaven.”  Some  time  ago  the  same  thought  came  to 
her  under  similar  circumstances.  It  seems  to  me  that 
she  gets  a momentary  glimpse  of  the  field  of  knowl- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


197 


edge  to  be  explored,  and  its  immensity  overwhelms 
her. 

Sept  1.  She  was  in  much  trouble  in  her  arithmetic, 
because  of  another  sum  about  work.  The  old  diffi- 
culty, which  I thought  overcome  long  ago,  arose,  and 
she  could  not  tell  how  long  it  would  take  one  man  to  do 
a piece  of  work  if  it  took  three  men  twenty-one  days. 

Sept.  4.  For  some  time  we  have  noticed  some  little 
developments  in  Laura  which  looked  like  prudery.  On 
Saturday  evening,  at  the  children’s  party  held  in  the 
Doctor’s  parlors,  Dr.  Lieber  attempted  to  shake  hands 
with  her.  She  pulled  her  hand  away,  and  refused  to 
speak  to  him  at  all,  or  to  any  one  standing  near  her. 
There  was  a little  excuse  for  her;  there  had  been  a 
great  crowd  at  the  exhibition  in  the  afternoon,  she  had 
become  much  excited,  and  the  heat  had  made  her  head 
ache,  but  the  time  had  come  to  treat  the  matter  seri- 
ously, and  this  morning  we  discussed  it.  She  talked  of 
the  different  times  when  she  had  acted  rudely,  showing 
she  was  perfectly  conscious  to  what  I alluded.  When 
told  how  ladies  and  other  blind  girls  behaved,  she  con- 
fessed that  she  had  been  silly,  and  promised  she  would 
never  do  so  again.  She  asked  the  meaning  of  “ pre- 
vent ” and  “ explanation.”  Some  time  since  she  had  had 
the  word  “ description,”  and  now  asked,  “ Did  you  give 
me  a description  of  the  new  word  prevent,  or  an  expla- 
nation of  it  ? ” She  shows  much  ingenuity  in  introdu- 
cing these  long  words  into  her  conversation,  but  not 
unfrequently  I find  she  has  not  taken  their  exact  mean- 
ing. Ater  a long  talk  about  the  caves  of  Virginia,  she 
gave  me  a kiss  and  hug,  and  said,  “ You  are  very  kind 
to  give  me  many  descriptions.” 


198 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


8.  She  reminded  me  of  a promise  to  show  her 
a tellurian.  She  very  readily  told  me  from  it  about 
day  and  night,  and  the  time  at  the  different  quarters  of 
the  globe,  but  found  it  hard  to  realize  that  some  people 
were  then  sleeping.  She  noticed  at  once  the  revolution 
of  the  earth  on  its  own  axis,  and  also  about  the  sun, 
and  in  good  language  told  the  effects  produced  by  each 
motion. 

Sept.  9.  From  week  to  week  I can  see  an  improve- 
ment in  her  way  of  repeating  the  stories  which  are  read 
to  her,  and  to-day  she  did  better  than  ever  before. 
When  she  writes  one  out  fully,  there  are  many  mistakes 
in  the  use  of  language,  which  never  occur  when  she  is 
spelling  it  out  with  the  fingers ; but  this  is  readily 
accounted  for  when  we  remember  that  writing  is  of 
necessity  a slow  process,  and  that  she  cannot  look  back 
to  read  her  last  sentence,  or  to  note  the  omission  of  a 
word  by  inadvertence. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


199 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Perhaps  some  reader  would  like  to  ask,  " How 
do  you  read  books  to  Laura  ? ” Seated  at  her  left 
side,  on  a sofa  rather  than  in  a chair,  with  the  book 
in  my  left  hand  I spell  with  my  right  hand  (using 
the  manual  alphabet  of  the  deaf-mutes)  every 
word  with  the  exception  of  " and,”  which  has  its 
own  sign.  This  is  all  I have  to  attend  to.  She 
takes  care  of  the  rest  herself.  With  her  right 
hand  moving  lightly  over  my  fingers,  never  with 
pressure  enough  to  impede  their  motion,  she 
spells  or  rather  reads  the  words.  She  does  not 
seem  to  take  cognizance  of  each  letter  any  more 
than  we  do  when  we  read  with  our  eyes,  but  the 
most  rapid  talker  by  the  finger  alphabet  could 
never  be  too  quick  for  her  comprehension,  and  I 
always  talk  to  her  with  such  rapidity  that  no  eye 
could  possibly  read  the  words.  Constant  prac- 
tice (and  for  a year  I had  talked  more  with  my 
fingers  than  with  my  mouth)  had  made  them  very 
flexible,  and  the  question  was  so  often  asked  me, 
"How  fast  do  you  talk?”  that  I carefully  tried 
some  experiments,  which  resulted  as  follows  : If  a 


200 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


person  seated  near  me  read  aloud,  I could  not 
interpret  &s  rapidly  as  she  read,  but  if  she  was 
reading  to  a number  of  people  in  a large  room,  I 
could  follow  her,  givingLaura  every  word  spelled 
upon  my  fingers.  Of  course  the  mere  spelling  was 
no  more  an  act  of  consciousness  than  it  is  when 
we  are  writing ; no  one  thinks  how  he  spells  his 
words,  unless  in  doubt  of  the  orthography,  so  that 
no  time  was  lost  in  this  way. 

Sept.  12.  The  constant  rubbing  had  caused  Laura’s 
hands  to  be  very  rough.  Dr.  Fisher  noticed  them,  and 
told  her  she  must  put  some  ointment  upon  them  and 
wear  gloves.  This  was  a great  trial,  for  it  not  only 
retarded  her  own  talking,  but  made  it  difficult  for  her  to 
understand  me.  She  tried  to  be  patient,  and  after  a 
day  or  two  succeeded  in  using  them  despite  the  gloves. 
In  her  lesson  on  the  tellurian  she  learned  about  the 
length  of  the  year  on  the  different  planets,  and  of  her 
own  accord,  entered  upon  a calculation  of  how  old  she 
would  be  if  she  had  lived  in  the  others.  Herschel 
amused  her,  and  she  had  a hearty  laugh  when  she  found 
how  few  years  old  Dr.  H.  would  be  had  he  lived  there. 

Sept.  13.  The  questions  which  she  solved  readily 
this  morning  were  of  this  kind  : “If  five  eighths  of  a 
cask  of  wine  cost  forty-two  dollars,  what  will  the  whole 
cost  ? ” She  answered  nine  such  in  her  lesson  of  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  and  explained  them. 

Among  our  visitors  to-day  were  two  gentlemen  who 
had  walked  from  North  Carolina.  Laura’s  knowledge 
of  the  States  they  had  passed  through  furnished  many 
topics  for  conversation.  When  she  asked  about  Wier’s 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


201 


Cave,  one  of  them  presented  her  with  a piece  of  a stalac- 
tite which  he  had  brought  from  it.  This  morning  when 
she  came  for  her  lesson,  she  asked  if  I could  see  the 
sun  ; told  her  I could,  but  it  was  not  high  enough  yet  foi 
her  to  feel  it.  A while  after  she  said,  ‘ ‘ I think  the  earth 
moves  round  very  slowly,  I cannot  feel  the  sun  much.” 
She  enjoyed  examining  the  planetarium,  and  spent  an 
hour  over  it. 

Sept.  15.  Her  doll  in  Welsh  costume  arrived  last 
evening,  and  furnished  a topic  for  conversation.  She 
wished  to  know  about  the  people  and  their  country. 
She  told  me  that  her  old  doll  and  Julia  (the  new  one) 
loved  each  other  very  much. 

Sept.  21.  Our  lesson  was  on  merchant  ships,  sug- 
gested by  her  inquiry,  “ What  does  Mr.  W.  do  in  Bos- 
ton all  day?”  Described  the  preparations  for  the  voy- 
age, loading  the  ship,  and  then  of  the  return  cargo. 
Her  last  question  was,  “ Where  does  he  get  money  to 
buy  so  many  things  ? ” 

Sept.  25.  A little  circumstance  occurred  at  the  tea- 
table  last  eve  which  troubled  me.  She  had  eaten  one 
piece  of  pie  and  asking  for  another,  was  told  it  was  not 
best  for  her  to  eat  more.  She  was  displeased,  and  sat 
still  until  she  thought  I had  left  the  room,  when  she 
asked  Mrs.  S.  for  it.  As  this  savored  of  both  deception 
and  disobedience,  I talked  seriously  about  it  this  morn- 
ing. She  confessed  at  once  the  error,  but  justified  her- 
self saying,  “I  wanted  more  pie.”  Found  Mrs.  Smith 
had  promised  her  the  pie  for  lunch  to-day  and  decided  it 
was  best  to  let  her  have  it,  that  she  must  give  part  of  it 
to  Frank  and  Susan  (two  little  deaf-mute  children)  who 
wanted  it  as  much  as  she  did,  and  did  not  ask  for  it  after 


202 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


their  teacher  had  told  them  no.  She  did  not  object  to 
this,  but  said,  “ I will  give  you  some  too.”  Told  her  I 
only  wished  to  teach  her  to  do  right,  not  to  take  her  pie. 
She  said,  “ It  is  to  remember  me  that  I must  not  do  so 
again,  and  next  time  when  you  tell  me  that  I must  not 
have  any  more,  I shall  not  ask  Smith  for  it.”  She  is 
reviewing  the  boundaries  of  the  States ; she  does  not 
enjoy  it,  and  when  I proposed  it,  said,  “ I have  told  you 
many  times,  I know” 

Sept.  29.  The  day  was  spent  in  reviews,  and  arrange- 
ments for  the  vacation.  She  objected  to  my  proposal 
that  she  write  an  hour  every  day  in  her  journal  during 
my  absence,  but  consented  to  it  at  last,  that  I might 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it  on  my  return.  Of  course 
she  must  miss  her  lessons,  but  she  bade  me  good  by 
saying,  “ I am  glad  for  you  to  go  and  see  your  friends, 
because  it  will  make  you  very  happy.  ” One  day  in  the 
vacation  she  had  the  promise  of  going  to  meet  her 
mother  in  Halifax,  but  a violent  rain  prevented.  She 
said,  “God  was  very  unkind  to  make  it  rain,  he  knew 
we  wanted  to  go.”  She  was  reconciled  by  being  told 
that  the  earth  needed  rain  to  make  the  things  grow,  and 
she  must  try  to  be  happy  when  disappointed. 

Oct.  27.  She  asked  why  Mercury  and  Venus  had  no 
moons.  When  told  we  did  not  know,  she  said,  “We 
can  ask  God  about  it  when  we  go  to  heaven.  Does 
Grrin*  know  about  it  now  ? ” Thought  she  might  have 
forgotten  some  of  her  geography  lessons  in  the  month, 
and  gave  her  a review.  She  answered  questions  as  fast 
as  her  fingers  could  fly,  and  made  only  four  mistakes  in 


* The  little  blind  boy  who  died  two  years  ago. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


203 


all  the  States.  She  mentioned  all  the  capitals  and  on 
what  rivers  situated. 

Nov.  1.  Before  breakfast  I went  to  get  seed  for  the 
birds,  but  could  not  find  the  glass  with  which  I measured 
it,  which  always  stood  on  a waiter.  At  the  table  I 
asked  Laura  if  she  knew  where  it  was.  She  answered 
without  hesitation,  “ I have  not  seen  it.”  On  searching 
for  it  further,  I was  surprised  to  find  it  on  the  floor  in  a 
corner,  broken  in  pieces,  as  if  it  had  been  thrown  with 
considerable  force.  A suspicion  that  all  was  not  right 
with  Laura,  led  me  to  watch  her  countenance  while  she 
was  doing  her  morning  work.  After  school  I asked 
again,  “ Do  you  know  where  the  glass  is  ? ” The  blood 
rushed  to  her  face,  and  she  said  hesitatingly,  “ I thought 
you  let  something  fall  yesterday,  when  I was  in  the 
kitchen  knitting.”  From  this  reply  I knew  she  was 
guilty,  and  said,  “ Think,  — be  sure  to  tell  the  truth.” 
Then  she  said,  “ When  I went  down  yesterday,  I saw 
the  flies  eating  crumbs  in  the  waiter,  and  I brushed  them 
away,  flies  were  eating  glass,  and  I did  not  want  them 
to,  and  I thought  I felt  glass  fall.”  “ But  you  said  before 
you  thought  that  I let  something  fall.  Did  I break  the 
glass?”  “No.”  “Where  did  the  glass  fall?”  “On  the 
floor.”  “ Did  you  feel  it  there  ? ” “ Yes.”  “Why  did 
you  not  tell  me  when  I asked  this  morning  ? I looked 
for  it,  but  it  was  so  dark  I could  not  see  the  pieces  on 
the  floor.”  She  repeated  what  she  had  said  before,  but 
in  a very  indifferent  and  careless  manner,  and  it  seemed 
to  me  with  a disposition  to  “ brave  it  out,”  which  was 
an  entirely  new  development  and  gave  me  great  anxiety. 

Penitence  has  followed  always  so  quickly  after  trans- 
i gression,  that  it  almost  made  us  feel  that  her  faults  were 


204 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


so  little  we  ought  to  let  them  pass  unnoticed.  I told 
her  now,  I could  not  talk  any  more  about  it.  but  that 
she  must  sit  alone,  without  work,  and  think  about  it. 
Without  her  knowledge,  I stayed  in  the  room,  where  I 
could  carefully  watch  her.  In  a little  while  her  coun- 
tenance changed,  and  she  became  troubled,  and  soon 
the  tears  fell.  At  the  close  of  the  forenoon  I went  to 
her,  and  asked,  “ Why  do  you  think  you  are  sitting 
alone?  ” “ To  think  about  being  wrong,  and  deceiving 

you.  At  table  I said  I had  not  seen,  and  at  nine,  I 
said  I frightened  flies  away ; it  was  not  true.”  She 
asked  why  I did  not  cry  as  she  did.  Told  her  I felt 
very  sad,  and  it  would  be  long  before  I could  be  happy, 
and  that  Doctor  would  be  very  sad  when  he  read  in  my 
journal  about  it.  “ Did  I act  a lie,  or  tell  a lie?  ” she 
asked.  I talked  with  her  some  time,  to  try  to  convince 
her  how  much  better  it  would  have  been  had  she  come 
and  told  me  at  once  after  she  had  done  it.  She  said,  “I 
talked  to  myself  about  its  being  a lie,  and  that  it  was 
wrong  to  deceive.”  After  sitting  still  awhile,  with  the 
tears  rolling  down  her  cheeks,  she  said,  “ My  mother 
told  me  I would  (should)  be  a good  girl.  I hope  I 
shall  learn  to  tell  the  truth,  and  always  to  tell  you  and 
Miss  J.,  when  I do  anything.  Are  you  tired  of  teach- 
ing me  not  to  tell  a lie  ? ” Told  her  I hoped  she  would 
learn  soon  that  it  was  much  pleasanter  and  easier  to 
tell  the  truth,  and  that  she  might  remember  this  very 
long,  she  had  better  sit  alone  to  work.  “Will  you 
shut  the  door  that  no  one  can  come  in,  and  see  a very 
sad  and  wrong  little  girl  ? ” After  an  hour  I went  for 
her  to  walk.  She  seemed  glad  to  go,  but  talked  little. 
On  returning,  she  went  to  the  school-room  to  see  com- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


205 


pany,  it  being  trustees’  meeting.  After  this  she  said, 
“ I had  better  sit  alone  till  tea-time.”  At  the  tea-table 

she  said,  “ I want  to  tell  you  something.  Miss  M 

is  here  to  see  Lurena  to-day : may  I go  to  see  her  ? ” 
Asked  her  if  she  thought  it  would  be  right  for  me  to  let 
her  go.  In  a moment  she  said,  “ No,  I must  sit  alone 
to-night,  and  think  about  being  wrong.”  When  going  to 
bed  she  said,.  “ Will  you  forgive  me?”  and  with  a very 
sad  look,  “ Do  you  think  I will  ever  tell  lies  again?” 
I have  noted  this  case  so  carefully  because  it  is  the 
first  untruth  since  the  affair  of  the  gloves  that  we  have 
known  of.  There  is  no  reason  why  she  should  not  have 
told  me  of  the  accident  at  once,  for  she  had  seemed  to 
take  pleasure  previously  in  doing  so,  and  has  never 
been  reproved  for  any  such  thing. 

Noo.  2.  She  recited  an  excellent  lesson  in  arith- 
metic, and  never  seemed  to  love  me  so  well  as  to-day. 
Gave' her  a lesson  on  the  large  map  of  North  America. 
She  has  been  studying  on  a map  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  scale  of  the  new  one  was  of  course  very  differ- 
ent. To  give  her  an  idea  of  this,  I passed  her  hand 
over  the  space  occupied  by  the  United  States.  It  rested 
on  Missouri,  which  she  spelled.  I asked  her  to  find 
Ohio,  not  thinking  it  possible  for  her  to  do  it  without 
help,  but  she  had  no  difficulty,  and  told  me  some  of  the 
rivers  and  capitals.  I supposed  we  should  have  two 
lessons,  at  least,  on  the  United  States,  before  beginning 
the  other  countries  of  North  America,  but  it  was  all 
done  in  this  one.  When  I showed  her  the  little  space 
occupied  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  she  immediately 
showed  me  Florida.  At  each  school  to-day  she  asked, 
“ Do  you  feel  more  happy?  I must  try  to  be  very 


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LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


good,  to  make  you  more  happy.  If  I say  my  lesson 
well,  will  it  make  you  happy  ? ” 

Nov.  3.  In  learning  about  Mexico  and  Guatemala, 
she  said,  “ I think  there  are  many  new  hard  names.” 
Why  one  name  should  be  any  harder  than  another  to 
her,  has  been  a question  that  I have  tried  in  vain  to 
answer  satisfactorily  to  myself.  If  we  see  or  hear  an 
unusual  combination  of  letters,  we  call  it  “a  hard 
word,”  but  neither  of  these  causes  operate  with  her, 
nor  does  she  always  classify  words  as  we  should,  for 
sometimes  a word  which  seems  simple  to  me,  gives  her 
difficulty.  Some  one  had  told  her  that  bears  sometimes 
ate  little  boys.  I explained  it,  and  she  said,  “ Bears 
are  not  to  blame.”  “Why?”  “Because  they  are 
hungry  and  have  a good  appetite.”  She  asked  if  all 
animals  were  ferocious  (a  new  word  to-day).  She 
saw  at  the  menagerie  a little  leopard  three  months  old, 
and  very  gentle,  but  I told  her  it  would  become  wild  as 
it  grew  older.  “ Who  takes  care  of  the  young  leopard, 
that  other  animals  might  not  eat  him  ? Why  does  God 
make  some  animals  wild  ? ” 

Nov.  6.  At  noon  she  came  to  me  sajung,  “ I found 
some  words  in  a book  I do  not  know.”  She  attempted 
to  spell  one,  and  I guessed  from  the  rest  of  the  sentence 
what  it  was,  “Alphabet  are  twenty-six  in  number.”  I 
supposed  she  knew  the  word  long  ago,  for  a year  or 
more  since,  when  she  was  daily  using  her  type  box,  she 
used  to  arrange  the  letters  in  proper  order,  but  proba  ■ 
bly  then  I always  spoke  of  them  to  her  as  the  letters. 
For  our  talk  to-day,  told  her  she  might  think  of  all  the 
animals  we  required  to  make  the  different  things  in  the 
room,  and  to  illustrate  my  meaning  I asked,  “ What 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


207 


one  to  make  the  carpet  ? ” This  was  sufficient  clew, 
and  her  thoughts  and  fingers  seemed  to  fly.  “Wool 
from  the  sheep,  horse  to  make  hair-cloth  for  chairs  and 
sofa,  goat  to  make  the  cushion  for  the  other  rocking- 
chair,  and  baby.”  “What  do  you  mean  by  baby?” 
“ Goat’s  baby  to  make  my  shoes,  and  silk- worm  for 
mjr  shades,  and  your  handkerchief.”  Here  she  paused, 
and  I led  her  to  the  table.  She  put  her  hand  on  the 
thermometer,  and  said  elephant  for  that  and  paper- 
folder,  bees  for  the  wax  flowers  and  fruit,  birds  for  the 
lamp,  and  whales  for  oil,  and  whale’s  head  for  my 
rabbit.  This  was  a little  model  made  of  spermaceti. 

Nov.  7.  Continued  yesterday’s  talk,  taking  up 
metals.  She  thought  at  once  of  gold  for  thimbles,  rings, 
and  pins,  silver  for  wire  and  cologne  stand,  iron  for 
grate  and  register  and  brass.  Then  she  walked  about 
the  room  to  see  what  she  could  find.  There  were  few 
things  that  she  did  not  know.  Next  she  led  me  to 
the  basement,  and  opened  the  ice  chest  to  ask  what  it 
was  lined  with,  and  then  to  the  kitchen  range  to  know 
what  the  plate  on  which  the  maker’s  name  was  printed 
was  made  of,  and  to  a water  pipe  that  was  in  the  cor- 
ner of  an  entry,  where  no  one  would  suppose  she  would 
ever  have  found  it,  and  lastly  to  the  stairs  to  ask  why 
part  of  the  supports  of  the  railing  were  of  iron  and  part  of 
wood.  I wondered  how  many  children  with  their  eyes 
had  noticed  this.  Although  I have  been  with  her  so 
long  she  is  a constant  surprise  to  me. 

Yesterday  I obtained  some  of  Abbott’s  stories  to  read, 
for  I find  no  others  are  so  well  adapted  to  her,  and  now 
she  can  learn  so  much  from  stories  of  the  right  kind. 

Nov.  9.  She  said,  “ I want  to  ask  you  about  many 


208 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


things  that  I have  seen  some  time,  and  where  they 
grow.”  One  of  these  was  a pumpkin.  She  had  seen 
a very  large  one,  and  imagined  that  it  grew  upon 
a tree,  and  was  puzzled  to  know  why  it  did  not  fall  off. 
We  had  a talk  upon  the  manner  of  growth  of  various 
vegetables  and  fruits,  their  order  of  ripening,  etc. 

Nov.  10.  Continued  the  talk  about  things  in  the 
room,  what  woods  we  should  need  to  make  them.  She 
knew  these  all  except  rosewood.  Found  she  knew 
nothing  about  glass.  Told  her  about  its  manufacture, 
and  the  manner  of  its  discovery.  She  could  hardly 
believe  me  when  I told  her  that  a long  time  ago  men  did 
not  know  anything  about  it,  and  had  no  glass,  and  this 
developed  an  idea  which  I never  knew  before  that  she 
had,  viz.,  that  God  taught  the  first  man  everything, 
and  he  taught  everybody  else.  The  idea  of  invention 
or  discovery  was  a new  one.  The  making  of  soap  and 
paint,  'white  lead,  more  than  filled  up  her  hour,  and  I 
felt  that  she  had  too  much  that  was  new  to  remember 
it  all. 

Nov.  13.  Found  she  could  tell  me  all  the  story  about 
glass,  its  discovery,  and  even  the  name  of  the  city 
where  it  was  first  used ; though  only  told  her  once. 
She  was  very  happy  in  the  hour  for  company  to  be 
introduced  to  some  ladies  from  Santa  Cruz,  and  that 
she  could  show  them  upon  the  map  where  their  island 
■was.  A talk  to-day  upon  colors,  what  made  from, 
where  the  plants  grow,  etc. 

Nov.  14.  Commenced  Section  13,  Colburn’s  Men- 
tal Arithmetic.  I anticipated  difficulty,  but  after  giv- 
ing her  the  first  example,  left  her  to  think  about  it. 
She  soon  solved  it,  and  did  fourteen  sums.  A talk 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


209 


upon  cochineal.  Her  delight  is  great  when  her  recently 
acquired  knowledge  comes  into  use,  as  when  told  that 
the  insects  came  from  Mexico.  Commenced  Abbott’s 
story  called  u Caleb  in  Town.” 

Nov.  17.  Finished  the  large  map  of  North  America, 
and  merely  for  the  experiment  took  her  to  a little  map 
of  the  same,  which  is  in  the  corner  of  the  large  map  of 
the  United  States.  She  found  every  place  I asked  her 
except  Newfoundland.  For  a talk,  took  a summary  of 
things  in  the  room,  saying  to  what  kingdom  their  com- 
ponent parts  belonged.  She  omitted  bees,  and  I 
asked  her  of  what  the  fruit  in  the  vase  was  made. 
“ I do  not  know,  God  made  it.”  When  naming  the 
metals  she  said,  “ Is  zinc  good  for  windows?”  Some 
of  the  long  windows  opening  upon  a -piazza  had  zinc 
set  in  the  lower  part  of  the  sash  to  prevent  breakage, 
and  she  had  supposed  we  could  see  through  it  as  well, 
but  that  it  was  stronger  than  glass. 

Nov.  18.  She  asked,  “ What  do  you  do  when  you 
are  frightened  and  feel  warm?”  “Look  to  see  what 
made  me  frightened.”  “ Why  did  something  make  a 
noise  under  my  closet  floor,  so  that  I could  feel  it?” 
Here  she  scratched  upon  the  table  to  show  me,  and  I told 
her  it  was  mice  running  about,  and  I had  heard  them. 
“ Were  you  much  frightened?  ” u No.  I only  thought 
they  were  having  a play.”  “ Why  did  I not  think  so  ? ” 
She  seems  not  to  overcome  this  timidity,  and  it  causes 
her  real  suffering.  She  writes  a great  many  letters  for 
her  own  amusement,  and  entirely  without  oversight  or 
any  dictation.  It  often  amuses  us  to  observe  how 
carefully  she  adapts  herself  to  her  correspondents.  The 
following  is  a copy  of  one  she  brought  me  to-day  to 
14 


210 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


send  to  a little  sister  of  mine,  who  she  knows  is  not 
acquainted  with  any  of  the  people  about  her  here,  so  she 
has  only  one  or  two  subjects  to  make  up  a letter. 

My  Dear  Little  Lizzie  : 

Miss  Swift  was  sick  in  her  head  this  morning. 
Before  dinner  I brushed  her  head  very  much,  & put 
much  cologne  on,  & it  made  her  very  much  better. 
She  said  that  I was  very  kind  to  her,  & she  thanked 
me  very  much  for  me  to  cure  her,  so  she  went  to  church 
once  in  the  afternoon.  I love  her  very  much.  I am 
very  happy  because  I was  so  very  kind  to  her.  I send 
very  much  love  to  you  & a kiss.  I want  to  see 
you  very  much.  My  mother  & father  came  to  see  me 
& staid  seven  days.  I was  very  glad  to  see  them  last 
October.  I like  my  little  sugar  bird  very  much  that  you 
sent  it  to  me  by  Swift. 

My  friend,  good-bye, 

Miss  Laura  Bridgman. 

This  signature  was  a new  thought  and  originated 
probably  in  a sense  of  her  superiority  to  her  little  cor- 
respondent, and  the  wish  to  express  it 

Nov.  20.  She  brought  to-day  a book  of  diagrams 
belonging  to  a work  on  natural  philosophy,  and  as  I 
make  it  a point  never  to  discourage  her  by  saying  she 
cannot  understand  about  anything,  I promised  to  tell  her 
to-morrow,  that  I might  get  time  to  select  enough  for  a 
lesson  to  satisfy  her  cravings  for  knowledge.  I hap- 
pened to  ask  the  question,  “ In  what  direction  does  the 
Mississippi  run  ? ” This  was  a new  expression  to  her. 
Probably  I have  always  used  the  word  “ flow  ” before. 
She  said,  “ The  river  has  no  feet,  why  do  you  say 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


211 


run 9”  Continued  our  talks,  asking  her  the  places  to 
which  we  would  have  to  go  to  get  all  the  things  we 
needed  for  the  parlor. 

Nov.  21.  She  came,  saying,  “ Get  the  philosophy.” 
Told  her  I needed  no  book,  and  she  waited  impatiently 
for  me  to  begin.  It  was  raining  violently,  and  I con- 
cluded to  take  rain,  snow,  and  hail  for  my  topic.  I asked 
her  about  the  steam  from  a kettle  over  the  fire.  At  first 
she  seemed  to  know  nothing  about  it,  but  suddenly  the 
memory  of  a burn  she  got  from  it  when  a little  girl 
came  to  her,  and  after  that  she  understood  it.  Next 
told  her  of  the  effect  of  the  sun’s  heat  upon  the  water  on 
the  earth.  The  first  time  she  got  no  idea  of  it,  but  on 
repetition  she  understood  it  entirely,  and  gave  me  a 
good  explanation  in  her  own  words.  In  teaching  her 
any  new  thing  I alwa}'S  pause  at  intervals,  and  ask 
her  to  tell  me  what  I have  been  talking  about,  that  I 
may  be  sure  she  has  taken  my  exact  idea.  If  I omit 
this,  by  accident,  we  are  sure  to  have  to  begin  again 
at  the  commencement.  Having  understood  about  the 
way  the  sun  produces  vapor,  it  was  an  easy  step  to  rain 
and  hail.  None  but  those  who  have  attempted  it  can 
fully  understand  the  difficulty  of  commencing  a new  sub- 
ject with  Laura.  I must  be  very  careful  that  no  word 
is  used  in  the  explanation  I give  which  is  new  to  her. 
For  instance : this  morning  after  explaining  the  word 
‘‘vapor,”  I said,  “The  sun  turns  water  into  vapor.” 
Now  no  one  would  think  there  was  anything  objection- 
able in  this,  but  she  asked,  “ Do  you  mean  turns 
f ound?  ” She  had  never  chanced  to  have  the  word  used 
in  the  sense  of  changes , and  all  her  attention  centred  on 
that  one  word,  and  the  truth  I wished  to  teach  her  was 


212 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


lost.  If  this  were  the  case  in  only  one  sentence,  it 
would  be  of  no  importance,  but  occurring  frequently, 
despite  all  my  care,  it  increases  the  difficulty  much. 
In  one  of  her  lessons  to-day  she  seeemed  lazy  and 
sleepy.  I rapped  on  her  forehead  (a  sign  which  she  had 
adopted  herself) . She  said,  u Why  ? ” 44  To  see  if  jtou 
have  anything  in  it,  have  you?”  44  No,  have  you?” 
44  Yes,  brains.”  44  My  brains  are  asleep.  Are  brains 
and  thoughts  the  same?  How  do  people  know  about 
brains  ? ” 

Nov.  27.  Sunday.  She  said,  44 1 am  thinking  about 
God.  I want  to  go  to  heaven  very  much.  I want  to  be 
very  good.”  While  taking  a walk  she  returned  to  the 
subject,  and  said,  44 1 was  thinking  much  about  God.” 
On  returning  from  church  I found  she  had  taken 
from  the  bookcase  a copy  of  the  Book  of  Proverbs  in 
raised  type.  She  said,  44  It  is  Proverbs’  Book,”  and 
asked  the  meaning  of  a number  of  words.  44  Seek 
first.”  4 4 Do  you  think  much  of  heaven?  I do.” 
4 4 What  is  thine  ? ” Being  told  that  it  was  the  same  as 
4 4 yours,”  she  said,  4‘  I think  thine  and  possession  are 
the  same.”  She  had  learned  this  word  when  she  was 
taught  44  British  Possessions”  on  the  map  of  North 
America. 

Nov.  28.  Told  her  Thursday  would  be  a holiday. 
44  Is  it  Fast?  ” Gave  her  the  word  44  Thanksgiving,”  and 
said  that  I was  going  to  spend  the  day  with  an  aunt. 
She  asked  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  the  city  to  meet  me  on 
my  return,  and  I agreed  to  it,  if  she  could  find  any  one 
to  go  with  .her.  She  said,  44  Does  God  know  who  will 
take  me  ? Is  God  ever  surprised  ? ” It  seems  that, 
without  a teacher,  she  is  working  out  truths  regarding 
God. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


213 


Dec.  5.  She  was  asking  many  questions  about  J.’s 
going  to  Boston,  and  how  she  was  to  come  back. 
She  told  her,  44  In  my  own  carriage.”  This  puzzled  her 
much  ; she  asked,  4 4 Why  cannot  I ride  too  ? ” 44  Because 
there  is  not  room.”  She  talked  a long  time,  completely 
mystified,  and  then  I asked  her  what  horses  took  her  to 
Boston  yesterday  ? 4 4 My  cloak,  bonnet,  etc.”  4 4 Did  }~our 
head  take  you  ? ” 44  No,”  but  still  she  did  not  understand 
it  until  I told  her  the  horses’  names  were  Feet,  and  then 
she  laughed  heartily  and  asked,  44  Who  is  the  driver?” 
44  The  head.”  She  held  her  hands  up  to  her  forehead  as 
if  holding  reins,  and  said,  44  My  soul  drives,”  and  then 
changed  it  to,  44  Think  drives.” 

Dec.  6.  Her  lesson  was  forty  sums  in  Section  14. 
Asked  the  meaning  of 44  den,  lack,  cling,  instance.” 
4 4 How  do  we  know  that  God  lives  in  heaven  ? ” 
When  told  we  read  it,  44  How  could  God  talk  to 
men  and  tell  them  what  to  write  in  a book?”  And 
then  she  made  a noise  which  she  calls  talking,  and 
asked  if  it  was  in  that  way.  She  said,  44  Dr.  Howe 
said,  he  wanted  to  tell  me  all  about  God.”  At  the  time 
of  Dr.  Howe’s  marriage,  it  was  evident  that  the  ques- 
tion often  arose  in  her  mind,  though  never  expressed  in 
words,  whether  the  new  relations  might  not  leave  less 
space  for  herself  in  his  affections,  but  this  morning, 
December  7,  it  found  utterance.  44  Does  Doctor  love  me 
like  Julia?”  She  was  answered,  44No.”  44  Does  he  love 
God  like  Julia  ? ” 44  Yes.”  When  she  came  for  her  lesson, 
she  repeated  the  question  to  me,  adding,  44  God  was 
kind  to  give  him  his  wife.”  Noticing,  as  I had  often 
done  before,  that  thoughts  of  this  kind,  even  though 
her  better  nature  asserted  itself  in  the  end,  were  apt  to 


214 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


leave  her  in  a state  of  mind  that  would  readily  develop 
into  impatience,  I alluded  playfully  to  the  manner  the 
cat  was  washing  her  face,  and  this  happening  to  be 
a new  thought,  diverted  her  attention.  She  could  not 
understand  how  it  was  possible  for  pussy  to  use  her 
paw  without  scratching  herself,  and  we  had  a lesson  an 
hour  long  on  a kitten.  At  another  time  she  asked  if 
mules  were  so  very  sure-footed  because  they  had  more 
toes  than  other  animals,  which  held  in  the  ground. 

Dec.  12.  On  being  shown  where  she  had  done  wrong 
in  not  observing  the  wishes  of  Miss  J.,  she  said,  “I 
will  not  do  it  again.  My  thoughts  tell  me  when  I am 
good  and  when  I am  wrong.”  Gave  her  the  new  word 
“ conscience.”  She  repeated  the  story  that  I had  read 
to  her  yesterday  very  well,  remembering  all  the  new 
words.  Her  written  abstracts  do  not  compare  favor- 
ably with  the  oral  ones,  for  she  cannot  be  made  to  feel 
that  it  is  necessary  to  take  time  and  paper  to  write  fully 
as  she  talks,  and  in  attempting  abbreviations  she  makes 
mistakes. 

It  is  for  this  reason  that  her  written  productions  can- 
not, with  justice,  be  compared  with  these  of  the  deaf- 
mutes  who  can  see  ; for  if  she  could  look  over  her  own 
papers  after  writing,  she  would  herself  be  surprised  at 
the  mistakes,  and  be  able  to  correct  most  of  them  with- 
out having  them  pointed  out. 

Dec.  14.  Not  in  the  right  mood  for  arithmetic,  there- 
fore it  took  an  hour  to  do  one  example,  although  very 
easy.  A lesson  upon  various  shapes  and  the  names  of 
each  had  interested  her  much  yesterday,  and  to-day  she 
had  collected  in  her  mind  all  things  in  the  house  which 
were  irregular  in  shape,  to  be  told  new  names.  In  this 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


215 


way  found  she  did  not  know  the  names  of  the  most 
common  cooking  utensils,  so  the  kitchen  was  our  school- 
room. This  led  to  a talk  on  meats.  She  said,  “I 
thought  turkey  and  chicken  and  ducks  were  all  the 
same,  they  taste  alike  to  me.  I can  tell  beef  from 
mutton,  wh}r  can  I not  know  turkey  and  chicken  ? ” 

On  a previous  page  allusion  is  made  to  the  fact  that 
we  thought  that  an  improvement  was  perceptible  in  her 
sense  of  smell,  and  this  has  continued,  though  very 
gradual.  She  has  always  been  a sufferer  from  a severe 
catarrhal  affection,  and  as  this  shows  signs  of  improve- 
ment, we  hope  for  a corresponding  one  in  both  smell 
and  taste. 

Dec.  15.  She  asked  if  the  weather  was  pleasant,  and 
being  told  it  looked  like  snow  she  said,  u Is  God  get- 
ting the  snow  ready  to  fall  now?”  As  she  had  recently 
had  lessons  on  vapor,  rain,  hail,  and  snow,  I recalled 
them  to  her  by  saying  that  the  vapor  had  come  into  the 
cold  air,  and  it  was  freezing  the  clouds  now,  so  they 
would  fall  in  snow,  which  she  understood.  Her  geog- 
raphy lesson  was  upon  Chili,  the  Argentine  Republic, 
and  Patagonia  with  adjacent  islands,  and  completed 
the  map  of  South  America. 

Dec.  18.  She  commenced  Section  15,  which  puz- 
zled her.  Yesterday,  when  out  of  school,  she  read 
in  a history  prepared  for  the  blind,  and  asked  me  an 
explanation  of  the  sentence,  u Their  arms  were  success- 
ful.” I explained  the  last  word  and  changed  the  sub- 
ject. This  morning,  after  she  had  done  one  sum,  she 
said,  “ My  arms  were  very  successful.”  Told  her  I 
thought  it  was  her  head  that  was  successful  in  thinking 
about  the  sums,  endeavoring  to  correct  the  false  impres- 
sion she  had  received. 


216 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


At  some  time  she  must  know  all  the  terrible  things 
of  history,  wars  and  fightings,  their  causes  and  conse- 
quences, but  my  heart  sank  within  me  when  this  ques- 
tion opened  the  subject,  and  as  I had  not  the  privilege 
of  telling  her  of  the  antidote  to  the  sorrows  and  suffer- 
ings of  this  life,  I felt  justified  in  leaving  the  story  of 
its  woes. 

Dec.  18.  While  she  was  sitting  at  work  this  after- 
noon, I noticed  that  she  made  a fretting  noise  continu- 
ally, and  asked,  “Why  do  you  fret  to-day?”  “ Some- 
thing troubles  me.”  “ What  is  it  ? ” “I  want  to  go  to 
heaven  ; people  are  not  kind  to  me,  and  do  not  love  me 
here  as  God  does.”  “ What  people  ? ” “ Many  people.” 
“ What  names?  ” “ Rogers  and  Wight  and  Coolidge ” 
(all  teachers).  “Am  not  I kind  to  you?”  “Yes.” 
“Why  do  you  think  they  are  not?”  “Because  they 
never  come  and  sit  by  me,  and  talk  to  me  much.”  Told 
her  they  all  had  much  work  to  do  for  the  other  scholars, 
and  could  not  have  time  to  talk  long  with  her,  but  they 
talked  when  they  met  her. 

She  is  alwaj^s  anxious  to  talk  with  every  one,  and 
knows  that  often  persons  who  pass  her  in  the  house 
avoid  her,  as  they  must  do  when  hurrying  to  some  duty. 
At  such  times  it  is  not  strange  that  the  feeling  of  being 
slighted  should  show  itself ; indeed,  it  is  a cause  of  sur- 
prise to  me  that  this  does  not  lead  to  expressions  which 
show  a painful  appreciation  of  her  privations ; but  in 
all  the  years  I have  been  with  her  I have  never  known 
of  such,  and  I do  not  think  she  suffers  from  this  cause. 

Dec.  19.  She  led  me  to  the  china  closet,  sajfing,  “ I 
want  to  ask  }tou  about  a shape,”  and  handed  me  a glass 
with  seven  sides.  She  had  learned  previously  “ octa- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


217 


gon”  and  “ hexagon.”  Next  she  found  a twelve-sided 
glass,  and  then  one  with  five  sides,  and  another  with  ten. 
When  she  had  learned  all  these  hard  names,  and  had 
seated  herself  to  talk,  she  asked,  “ How  do  we  know 
there  is  air?  Why  did  God  give  us  air?  What  is  wind 
made  of?  Orrin’s  breath  went  away  when  he  died.  Why 
do  we  have  blood?  If  we  tie  up  our  wrist  very  tight, 
so  that  blood  cannot  run,  what  will  our  hand  do  ? ” In 
geography  she  learned  for  the  first  time  about  a volcano. 
Her  questions  were  numerous:  “When  did  the  fire 
begin  to  come  out?  Who  made  the  fire?  Is  it  like  the 
fire  in  our  stoves?  Can  people  go  up  on  a volcano,  will 
it  burn  them?”  Then  she  thought  of  Niagara,  and 
asked,  “ How  steep  does  the  water  fall?  Why  does  it 
not  stop  ? Will  it  never  stop  ? Why  does  it  make  a 
loud  noise  ? Is  it  like  a cannon  ? ” 

The  gradual  development  of  her  mind  is  shown  very 
clearly  in  this  way ; when  first  told  about  a new  thing, 
Niagara  for  instance,  she  asks  all  the  questions  which 
occur  to  her  at  that  time,  but  after  a few  months  more  of 
study,  her  field  of  inquiry  is  enlarged,  and  then  she  re- 
turns voluntarily  to  the  subject  for  more  information. 

Finding  one  of  the  canary  birds  dead,  thought  it  a 
good  time  to  let  her  examine  it,  as  she  has  often  tried  to 
do  when  held  in  my  hand  alive.  She  asked,  “ Why  did  it 
die  ? ” “ Are  the  other  birds  lonely  and  sad  ? ” “ Why 

cannot  you  know  about  them ? ” (how  they  feel.)  She 
wanted  Oliver  to  see  it,  and  Miss  Rogers  led  him  down  to 
the  parlor,  where  they  sat  and  talked  some  time  about  it. 
She  said  afterwards,  “ If  I stopped  my  breath  ten  min- 
utes I should  die.  What  should  you  do  if  you  should 
come  to  this  room  after  I had  been  alone,  and  I had 


218 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


stopped  my  breath  and  died?  Would  you  be  sad? 
Would  you  like  to  have  God  stop  your  breath,  and  die 
to-day?  When  God  wants  you,  how  can  he  stop  your 
breath?” 

Dec.  21.  Laura’s  fourteenth  birthday  ; she  asked  me, 
“Do  you  like  fourteen?”  In  writing  an  account  of 
the  story  of  yesterday,  she  had  much  difficulty,  as  she 
always  does  when  she  has  to  report  a conversation 
between  two  or  three  persons  ; she  becomes  confused  on 
the  person  and  number  of  both  pronouns  and  verbs. 

Dec.  22.  She  finds  more  trouble  with  Section  15  than 
any  she  has  had  this  term  in  arithmetic.  She  told  me 
she  dreamed  that  she  went  to  Philadelphia  with  me  to 
make  a visit,  and  that  she  had  a very  good  time.  Her 
head  was  so  full  of  it  that  she  wanted  to  talk  of  my 
home,  and  to  have  me  tell  her  “ about  all  the  furniture 
in  it  ” and  the  rooms  in  each  story , which  word,  thus 
applied,  was  new  to-day.  Next  she  wished  to  talk  about 
going  early  to  bed.  She  has  been  growing  increasingly 
sensitive  upon  this  point,  and  the  birthday  of  yesterday 
has  made  her  feel  very  much  older.  ‘ ‘ I amlarge  enough 
to  sit  up  till  eight.”  “ Doctor  thinks  it  is  better  for  you 
to  sleep  much,  and  he  knows  best.”  “ If  Doctor  knows 
best,  why  does  not  your  (little)  sister  Lizzie  go  to  bed 
at  half  past  seven ; 3rour  father  (is  a doctor)  knows 
best?  I think  when  I go  to  live  with  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Howe  in  his  house,  I shall  sit  up  till  half  past  eight.” 
She  argued  the  point  nearly  an  hour,  and  then  was  not 
convinced  by  my  reasoning  that  she  was  not  too  old  to  go 
to  bed  at  half  past  seven. 

Dec.  23.  She  surprised  me  by  doing  eighteen  sums. 
When  I told  her  how  well  she  had  done  she  made  a 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN: 


219 


very  sad  noise.  I asked  why.  “ I feel  very  sad  that  I 
did  not  do  sums  well  yesterday  and  Thursday.”  She 
said  this  not  because  I had  reproved  her  on  either  of 
these  days,  but  because  she  is  so  ambitious  that  the 
distress  at  being  obliged  to  delay  on  account  of  any 
new  difficulty  is  great.  She  brought  a feather  of  a pea- 
cock, and  wanted  me  to  tell  her  what  a bird  could 
do  with  such  long  feathers,  the  habits  of  the  bird,  and 
then  we  talked  of  parrots,  and  their  speaking,  which 
is  a subject  on  which  she  is  somewhat  sensitive  ; for  it  is 
a singular  fact  that  while  she  expresses  no  feeling  that 
men,  women,  and  children  can  talk  and  she  cannot,  she 
always  feels  it  when  she  learns  of  any  of  the  lower 
animals  speaking  or  hearing.  Questioned  her  on  the 
map  that  has  North  and  South  America  upon  it  for 
the  first  time,  asking  miscellaneous  questions,  such  as, 
u Which  way  is  Cape  Horn  from  Cape  Farewell?  ” all 
which  she  answered  without  hesitation. 

Visitors  to  the  Institution  will  remember  a 
very  large  globe,  thirteen  feet  in  circumference, 
which  stands  in  the  circular  hall  of  entrance.  Her 
success  on  the  map  made  me  desirous  of  testing 
her  upon  this. 

I supposed  that  the  convex  surface  would  trouble  her, 
and  the  raised  lines  were  also  different  from  those  to 
which  she  was  accustomed  on  the  maps,  but  she  was 
pleased  when  told  she  should  have  the  rest  of  her  lesson 
upon  it.  Her  first  remark  was,  “ It  is  too  very  large.” 
This  expression  was  not  a usual  one,  but  neither  quali- 
fying word  adequately  expressed  her  idea  of  its  size, 
so  she  used  both.  I placed  her  hand  on  the  Russian 


220 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Possessions  in  North  America,  and  moved  it  to  Mexico, 
to  give  her  an  idea  of  the  scale  of  distance.  I then 
asked  her  to  find  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  Hudson’s  Bay,  etc., 
which  she  did  at  once,  and  indeed  she  found  every 
place  I called  for,  even  to  Boston.  The  blind  children 
have  never  been  able  to  do  much  on  this  globe  in 
the  first  day’s  lesson,  and  I looked  on  with  astonishment 
to  see  her  fingers  move  so  rapidly,  scarce  touching  any- 
thing apparently  but  the  spot  called  for. 

When  passing  the  globe  recently  the  recollec- 
tion of  this  lesson  came  freshly  to  my  mind,  and 
the  wonderful  feat,  performed  by  touch  alone,  im- 
pressed me  more  than  ever  before. 

Dec.  26.  Another  lesson  on  the  globe ; she  found 
nearly  all  the  capitals  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
chief  cities  of  South  America,  and  then  of  her  own  ac- 
cord compared  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  to  find  their 
size,  and  asked  to  be  taught  the  countries  on  the  other 
side  of  the  globe.  This  certainly  shows  very  intelligent 
study  of  geography,  but  she  had  to  be  told  it  was  best 
to  learn  first  on  the  maps  about  the  other  continents,  and 
then  she  could  study  again  upon  the  globe. 

Dec.  27.  On  Miss  R.’s  return  after  Christmas,  Laura 
happened  to  be  much  interested  in  conversation  with 
someone,  and  pushed  her  away  when  she  attempted  to 
speak  to  her.  We  thought  it  best  to  give  her  no  oppor- 
tunity to  speak  to  her  again  for  some  time.  To-day 
she  asked,  “ Why  does  not  Rogers  come  to  see  me?”  I 
replied,  “ You  can  tell  me  why,”  and  she  at  once  con- 
fessed what  she  had  done.  After  talking  some  time  she 
said,  “ Why  do  you  not  send  me  to  the  House  of  Correc- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


221 


tion  ? ” Last  week  I had  read  her  a story  about  an  idle  boy 
who  was  sent  there.  She  answered  the  question  herself 
by  saying,  “You  can  send  me  to  my  chamber  ; that  is  my 
House  of  Correction.”  She  said  this  very  seriously,  and 
was  much  troubled  that  she  could  not  talk  to  Miss  R. 

Dec.  29.  She  has  reached  the  tables  of  weights  and 
measures  in  Colburn’s  Arithmetic,  and  learned  Federal 
and  English  money.  She  commenced  the  map  of  Eu- 
rope, taking  Great  Britain  for  a lesson. 

Dec.  30.  She  talked  about  catamounts,  panthers,  and 
leopards,  of  which  she  had  seen  models  yesterday.  I 
asked  her  if  she  would  like  to  live  in  the  woods  with 
them.  44  No,  I should  be  sore  because  they  would  bite 
me  so  much.  W ould  they  eat  me  ? ” “If  they  were  very 
hungry  they  would  eat  you  for  dinner.”  “ Should  I not 
go  to  heaven  ? I shall  not  see  you  in  heaven.  ” 4 4 Why  ? ” 
4 4 1 shall  talk  with  my  mouth.”  4 4 Will  you  not  talk  with 
me?”  44  I shall  be  busy  seeing  strangers.”  It  is  not 
surprising  that  with  the  idea  of  her  pleasure  in  heaven, 
should  mingle  that  of  being  able  to  communicate  with 
others  than  the  little  circle  which  surrounds  her  here. 


222 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

January , 1844.  Dr.  Howe  has  been  absent  in  Europe 
eight  months  to-day.  Laura  met  me  saying,  “ It  is  new 
happy  year  day.”  I wished  her  a Happy  New  Year,  and 
she  extended  her  hand  to  the  east,  spelling  with  her 
fingers  the  words,  44  Ilappy  New  Year,”  but  added,  with 
a laugh,  44  Doctor  cannot  know  I say  so.” 

Reviewed  the  tables  which  she  learned  last  week,  and 
added  to  them  dry,  ale,  and  wine  measures  Found  it 
a very  difficult  matter  to  explain  the  difference  between 
4 4 want  ” and  44  wish ” to  her. 

Jan . 2.  Completed  the  tables  this  morning ; when 
studjung  that  of  time,  she  asked,  44  How  did  men  know 
that  sixty  seconds  make  one  minute?”  She  had  a call 
from  a young  lady  who  was  deaf  and  dumb,  but  very 
graceful  and  pleasing  in  her  manners.  One  would  hardly 
suppose  that  Laura  would  perceive  this  with  her  one 
sense,  but  as  soon  as  she  had  left  she  began  to  draw  a 
comparison  between  Miss  L.  and  herself,  in  which  she 
acknowledged  herself  inferior.  She  perceived  that  some 
of  the  children  were  making  New  Year’s  presents 
yesterday,  and  desiring  to  imitate  them  she  spent  all 
her  spare  time  in  making  4 4 an  apron  for  little  Susan’s 
doll,  very  nice  and  pretty,  for  a New  Year’s  present.” 
Jan.  4.  In  her  journal  she  wrote,  44 1 thought 
about  heaven  and  God,  that  he  would  invite  me  some 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


223 


time  when  he  is  ready  for  us  to  go  to  him.  He  made 
it  storm  very  much.”  Advanced  as  far  as  Spain  on  the 
map  of  Europe,  but  she  became  so  much  interested  in 
that  country  and  its  people  that  it  occupied  all  the 
hour.  She  asked  many  questions  about  their  dress.  I 
told  her  of  a Spanish  girl  I had  seen  at  a concert,  of 
her  pretty  dress  and  beautiful  hair.  u Did  she  talk 
English?”  Told  her  I heard  her  say,  “ Mui  bien”  to 
see  if  she  remembered  the  words.  I had  told  them  to 
her  long  ago,  as  an  example  of  Spanish,  at  the  time  she 
tried  to  read  a Latin  book.  She  said  at  once,  “ Very 
well,”  and  then  told  me  other  words  which  I had  said 
to  her  then.  “ Do  they  have  the  same  animals  in  Spain 
that  God  made,  that  they  do  in  England?  Why  do 
Spanish  people  come  to  America  ? ” 

Jan.  7.  Laura’s  school  had  to  be  much  interrupted 
to-day,  on  account  of  Miss  J.’s  illness.  She  bore  this 
much  better  than  she  did  when  it  occurred  last  week 
from  my  own  illness,  and  was  very  sympathetic, 
anxious  about  her  medicines,  when  they  were  to  be 
taken,  etc.  To  make  me  forget  her  unkindness  at  that 
time  she  has  been  very  affectionate,  telling  me  how 
much  she  loves  me,  and  kissing  and  hugging  me  very 
often. 

Jan.  12.  She  talked  about  dreams,  and  said,  “ Some- 
times I dream  about  God.”  u What  do  you  dream  ? ” “I 
dreamed  that  I was  in  the  entry,  the  round  entry  where 
Lurena  was  rolling  in  her  chair  (an  invalid  chair) , and 
I went  into  a good  place,  that  God  knew  I could  not 
fall  off  the  edge  of  the  floor.”  This  entry  had  an  open- 
ing in  the  floor  for  the  passage  of  light  to  the  lower  hall, 
around  which  was  a railing,  and  I understood  that  in 


224 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her  dream  she  was  within  the  rail,  haying  tried  to  avoid 
the  chair.  Again  she  said,  “ I dreamed  God  took  awa}T 
my  breath  to  heaven, ” accompanying  the  words  with 
the  sign  of  drawing  something  from  her  mouth. 

In  writing  out  a story  which  I had  read  to  her,  she 
remembered  a sentence  in  it,  which  was,  “You  must 
thank  the  rabbit  for  your  hat,”  meaning  that  it  was  made 
from  the  skin  of  a rabbit ; but  she  took  its  literal  sense, 
and  stopped  writing  to  say,  “ I cannot  thank  him  ; he 
cannot  talk  or  know  signs.” 

Jan.  13.  She  did  but  few  sums,  as  she  had  forgotten 
about  reducing  fractions  to  their  lowest  terms.  She 
wrote  an  account  of  the  seal,  and  I found  she  under- 
stood it  well,  though  read  to  her  only  once,  and  in 
almost  the  exact  language  of  the  encyclopaedia.  She  is 
in  a great  hurry  to  get  to  Russia,  probably  because  it 
is  so  extensive  ; she  found  the  White  Sea  and  rivers 
running  into  it  without  any  help  to-day. 

Jan.  15.  Laura  did  the  sums  which  had  puzzled  her 
so  much  on  Saturday  as  fast  as  I could  mj’self.  Her 
ability  to  overcome  difficulties  between  two  days  is 
very  peculiar,  and  she  must  think  about  them  when  she 
is  sitting  alone,  for  I never  allude  to  arithmetic  after 
the  lesson  is  over,  and  she  never  asks  me  any  questions, 
but  it  often  happens  that  I leave  her  in  a puzzle,  and  at 
the  next  lesson  all  goes  smoothly. 

Jan.  16.  Yesterday  Laura  went  to  call  on  Miss 
Jeannette,  who  was  visiting  in  Boston,  and  while  I was 
absent  spent  her  time  in  fault-finding.  Eunice  was 
wrong  because  she  had  girls  come  into  her  kitchen ; 
Frank  was  wrong  because  he  came  over  J.’s  stairs  to 
find  Rogers.  To  each  of  these  charges,  which  were  evi- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


225 


dently  made  that  J.  might  censure  these  persons,  the 
answer  was,  she  was  very  glad  they  came.  “ Swift  is 
not  nice,  she  put  her  dress  on  the  bed,”  etc.  About 
three  months  ago  she  did  the  same  thing,  and  I talked 
with  her  a long  time  about  it,  until  I thought  she  saw 
the  wrong  and  felt  sorry  for  it.  When  I called  for  her 
to  take  her  home,  she  wanted  to  talk  with  me,  but  I told 
her  I could  not  talk  ; that  J.  said  she  had  been  unkind, 
and  I wanted  her  to  think  about  it.  She  said  no  more, 
and  soon  after  we  got  home  it  was  time  for  her  to  go  to 
bed.  This  morning  at  nine  I told  her  I wanted  to  talk 
about  it.  She  looked  very  sad  when  I asked  her  to  tell 
me  what  she  told  J.  In  all  the  charges  against  Eunice 
and  Frank,  I showed  her  where  they  were  both  right  in 
doing  what  they  did ; in  reply  to  those  she  brought 
against  myself,  I told  her  of  some  careless  things 
which  she  did  yesterday  when  preparing  to  walk,  such 
as  pulling  a dress  down  and  leaving  it  on  the  floor,  a 
closet  door  open,  etc.,  and  asked  her  if  she  would  like 
to  have  me  go  to  J.  and  tell  of  them  that  she  might  blame 
her  ; and  when  I said  that  I shut  the  door,  and  hung  up 
the  dress,  she  answered,  “You  were  kind,  I was  very 
unkind.”  I talked  with  her  some  time  to  convince  her 
how  often  she  might  tell  wrong  stories,  by  blaming  peo- 
ple for  things  she  did  not  know  about.  She  said, 
“ Whose  people  did  I blame?”  I did  not  understand 
what  she  meant,  and  answered,  “You  blamed  many  peo- 
ple.” “ I blamed  the  Lord’s  people,”  said  she.  I was 
surprised  at  this,  and  asked,  “What  does  Lord's  mean  ? ” 
“ God’s,  I saw  it  in  a book,”  and  she  showed  it  to  me 
in  “ The  Child’s  Second  Book,”  the  Commandments,  “ I 
am  the  Lord  thy  God,”  etc.  She  said,  “ How  can  I ask 


226 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


God  to  forgive  me  for  blaming  bis  people?”  “You 
can  ask  him  in  your  thoughts.”  “ Can  I know  when  he 
forgives  me,  how  can  I know  ? ” “ He  will  give  you  good 
thoughts.”  The  next  hour  was  for  writing  ; she  came 
to  me  and  said,  “ I have  asked  God  to  forgive  me,  and 
I hope  I shall  not  be  unkind.”  She  seated  herself  to 
write,  but  it  was  long  before  she  could  do  so.  I took  a 
seat  at  a short  distance  from  her  and  tried  to  read  her 
conversation  with  herself,  her  soliloquy.  She  said  to 
herself,  “ I am  very  sorry.”  “ Doctor  said  he  preferred 
to  teach  me  himself.”  “ Why  cannot  I know?  ” “ It 

makes  me  very  nervous.”  There  was  much  more,  but 
too  rapid  for  me  to  read. 

Jan.  17.  Gave  her  a lesson  in  philosophy  on  the 
lever.  She  seemed  to  understand  the  three  kinds,  so 
that  she  could  tell  me  what  kind  I used  when  taking 
coals  with  the  tongs,  ashes  with  the  shovel,  shutting  a 
door,  etc.,  and  in  one  more  lesson  will  do  very  well. 
After  the  lesson  she  said,  “ I think  God  has  sent  me 
good  thoughts.  I am  very  happy  to-day ; I do  not  feel 
cross  any.”  I asked  why  she  kissed  me  so  much  ; she 
said,  “ Because  I love  you  so  much  ; you  are  very  kind 
to  teach  me  many  new  things.” 

Jan.  19.  In  the  hour  for  conversation  she  intro- 
duced the  subject  of  dreaming  again.  “ Why  does 
God  give  us  dreams  ? Last  night  I dreamed  I talked 
with  my  mouth.  Did  you  hear  me  talk  ? ” “No;  I was 
asleep.”  “ I talked  as  any  people  do  in  dreams.”  To 
the  question,  “ What  words  did  you  dream?”  I could 
get  no  answer.  4 4 Do  Spanish  people  dream  like  us  ? 
Do  they  dream  words  like  us  ? ” 

Jan.  20.  We  took  a walk  to  Boston,  and  though 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


227 


the  thermometer  was  at  3°,  and  a high  wind  was  blow- 
ing, Laura  did  not  seem  to  mind  it  much.  Reversed 
the  usual  order  in  geography  by  pointing  her  finger  to 
the  place,  and  asking  for  its  name.  A missionary 
from  the  West  visited  us,  and  said  he  had  seen  an 
Indian  girl  eighteen  years  of  age,  who  was  born  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind.  She  resides  with  her  tribe  in  the 
northern  part  of  Michigan  State.  Laura  was  much 
interested  in  her,  and  thought  it  would  be  a good 
arrangement  for  the  girl  to  come  here  so  that  I could 
teach  her.  I suggested  that  she  might  teach  her  her- 
self, and  she  was  quite  willing  to  do  so.  At  the  tea- 
table  to-night  she  amused  herself  by  an  imaginary 
conversation  with  Dr.  Howe  after  his  return.  Holding 
out  her  hand  to  the  chair  at  the  table  where  he  usually 
sat,  she  asked  such  questions  as,  “Are  you  tired  of 
going  very  far  ? Did  you  want  to  come  back  ? ” At 
noon  she  asked  Miss  Rogers  if  Oliver  knew  about  God. 
She  looked  very  sad  when  Miss  Rogers  said  no,  and 
asked  her  why  she  did  not  teach  him. 

Jan.  24.  When  talking  with  J.  she  asked,  “ When 
you  ask  God  to  give  you  good  thoughts  do  you  say, 
Lord,  God,  Father,  My  Heavenly,  give  me  good 
thoughts  ? ” She  probably  got  these  words  from  some 
book.  She  asked  also,  “ When  you  look  up  do  you  see 
heaven  ? ” 

Jan.  26.  She  was  complaining  much  of  the  cold,  and 
I took  occasion  to  turn  her  thoughts  to  the  poor,  tell- 
ing her  of  the  sufferings  of  a family  I had  visited  yester- 
day. Her  first  question  was,  u Is  God  kind  to  the 
poor  woman  ? ” 

She  completed  the  circuit  of  Europe,  and  now,  to  her 


228 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


great  delight,  we  have  conversations  on  the  objects  of 
interest  in  the  various  countries,  the  people,  their  hab- 
its, articles  of  commerce,  etc. 

P.  M.  A large  number  of  the  representatives  vis- 
ited us.  Laura  had  a very  interesting  conversation  on 
their  duties,  asked  them  (through  myself  as  interpreter) 
many  very  appropriate  questions,  and  having  fully  under- 
stood the  importance  of  laws,  she  asked  if  they  sent  them 
to  Dr.  Howe,  that  he  might  know  what  they  were,  and 
why  they  wanted  the  blind  girls  to  go  to  the  State 
House  every  winter. 

Jan.  31.  A very  cold  walk  to-day.  Laura  com- 
plained but  little,  though  she  remarked,  u It  is  like  the 
northern  parts  of  North  America ; I think  beavers  could 
live  here.” 

Twenty-Eight  of  January. 

My  very  Dear  Dr.  Howe  : 

What  can  I first  say  to  God  when  I am  wrong? 
Would  he  send  me  good  thoughts  & forgive  me  when  I 
am  very  sad  for  doing  wrong  ? Why  does  he  not  love 
wrong  people,  if  they  love  Him?  Would  he  be  very 
happy  to  have  me  think  of  Him  & Heaven  very  often  ? 
Do  you  remember  that  you  said  I must  think  of  God  & 
Heaven  ? I want  you  to  please  to  answer  me  to  please 
me.  I have  learned  about  great  many  things  to  please 
you  very  much.  Mrs.  Harrington  has  got  new  little 
baby  eight  da}^s  last  Saturday.  God  was  very  gener- 
ous & kind  to  give  babies  to  many  people.  Miss  Rog- 
ers’ mother  has  got  baby  two  months  ago.  I want  to 
see  you  very  much.  I send  much  love  to  you.  Is  God 
ever  ashamed?  I think  of  God  very  often  to  love  Him. 
Why  did  you  say  that  I must  think  of  God?  You  must 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


229 


answer  me  all  about  it,  if  you  do  not  I shall  be  sad. 
Shall  we  know  what  to  ask  G od  to  do  ? When  will  He 
let  us  go  to  see  him  in  Heaven?  How  did  God  tell 
people  that  he  lived  in  Heaven  ? How  could  He  take 
care  of  folks  in  Heaven?  Why  is  He  our  Father? 
When  can  He  let  us  go  in  Heaven?  Why  cannot  He 
let  wrong  people  to  go  to  live  with  Him  & be  happy  ? 
Why  should  He  not  like  to  have  us  ask  Him  to  send  us 
good  thoughts  if  we  are  not  very  sad  for  doing  wrong  ? 

Feb.  2.  At  nine,  Laura  asked,  “ Do  you  remember 
about  the  woollen  gloves  that  I had  two  years  ago,  and 
that  I hid  them  and  told  a lie  about  them,  because  I did 
not  like  them?”  She  talked  of  nothing  but  this  the 
whole  hour ; said  she  was  sorry  she  did  so,  and  that  the 
reason  was,  because  she  preferred  to  wear  kid  gloves. 
She  spoke  of  her  work  yesterday,  and  I told  her  she 
was  very  industrious  to  knit  so  much.  She  appeared 
happy,  and  told  me  she  would  try  to  be  very  gentle  all 
day,  and  not  tire  me,  because  I was  weak  and  sick. 
At  eleven  we  had  an  interesting  lesson  on  the  climates 
of  Europe.  At  noon  I was  requested  to  take  Laura  to 
the  school-room,  as  special  company  would  be  present. 
While  waiting  their  arrival  I was  talking  with  her  about 
the  different  kinds  of  coal,  and  the  manner  of  making 
charcoal ; we  had  just  commenced  the  latter  subject, 
when  I noticed  that  she  had  left  her  handkerchief  upon 
the  desk.  (At  this  time  our  dresses  were  not  made 
with  pockets,  but  as  her  handkerchief  was  in  frequent 
•use,  she  always  carried  it  about  with  her.)  She  had 
been  told  repeatedly  why  it  was  not  proper  to  leave  it 
on  the  outside  of  the  desk,  and  as  she  was  so  scrupulous 


230 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


in  other  matters  of  propriety,  I supposed  when  she  con- 
tinued to  do  it,  that  it  was  from  inadvertence,  though  1 
had  noticed,  within  a few  days,  increasing  impatience 
when  reminded  of  it.  I paused  in  our  conversation  for 
an  instant  to  say,  “Put  your  handkerchief  in  your  desk.” 
She  hesitated  and  put  it  in  her  lap,  saying,  “ I prefer 
to  put  it  in  my  lap,”  and  held  up  her  hand  for  me  to  go 
on  with  my  storj'.  She  knew  that  I objected  to  this 
because  it  was  in  the  way  when  she  had  to  leave  her 
desk  to  go  to  the  map.  I said,  “ I told  you  to  put  it 
in  the  desk,  and  now  I want  you  to  do  it.”  She  sat 
still  for  about  two  minutes,  and  then  lifted  the  lid  very 
high,  threw  the  handkerchief  into  the  desk,  and  let  it 
fall  with  such  a noise  as  to  startle  all  in  the  school- 
room. Her  face  was  growing  pale,  and  she  was  evi- 
dently getting  into  a passion.  Whenever  I have  seen 
anything  of  this  kind  in  the  past  year,  the  question, 
4 4 Are  you  angry  ? ” has^  always  recalled  her  to  her 
senses  ; but  now  she  answered,  44 1 am  very  cross  ” I 
said  to  her,  4 4 1 am  very  sorry,  and  I am  very  sorry  you 
shut  the  desk  so  hard.  I want  you  to  open  it  again, 
and  take  your  handkerchief,  and  put  it  in  gently.” 
Putting  on  a very  firm  look,  she  said,  44 1 will  take  it 
out  to  wipe  my  eyes,  and  put  it  back,”  meaning,  44  not 
to  mind  you.”  I told  her  I wanted  her  first  to  put  it  in 
gently.  After  a moment’s  hesitation,  she  took  it  out. 
let  the  cover  slam  as  before,  and  then  raised  it  to  wipe 
her  eyes.  I said,  44 No,”  decidedly,  and  gently  took 
her  hand  down.  She  sat  still  awhile,  and  then  uttered 
the  most  frightful  yell  I ever  heard.  Her  face  was 
pale,  and  she  trembled  from  head  to  foot.  At  this 
moment  I heard  the  sound  of  visitors  approaching,  and 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


231 


onty  waited  to  say,  “ You  must  go  and  sit  alone.”  A 
second  she  clung  to  my  dress  and  then  went  quietly 
with  me  to  her  room. 

At  dinner-time  I led  her  to  the  table,  without  speak- 
ing, and  after  that,  gave  her  a chair  to  sit  by  herself, 
without  work.  Instead  of  looking  troubled,  as  she 
generally  does  after  having  done  anything  wrong,  she 
assumed  an  expression  of  indifference,  talked  to  herself 
a little,  and  then  feigned  sleep.  When  she  had  taken 
tea,  I asked  her  if  she  thought  she  could  do  what  I told 
her  to  do  this  morning,  if  I let  her  go  to  the  school- 
room. She  said  she  would.  I led  her  in  and  she  did  it 
very  quietly.  After  this  I tallied  an  hour  with  her, 
trying  to  get  her  to  feeling  as  she  ought.  She  acknowl- 
edged the  wrong  at  once,  and  said  she  was  sorry,  but 
her  countenance  indicated  anything  but  sorrow.  I left 
her  during  the  hour  for  reading,  and  when  I returned, 
she  looked  more  troubled,  and  I told  her  she  might  go 
to  bed,  hoping  that  her  own  thoughts  would  bring  her 
to  a right  state  of  feeling. 

Saturday,  Feb.  3.  This  morning  have  talked  with 
Laura  again,  and  am  completely  discouraged.  I have 
tried  every  argument  and  appealed  to  every  motive, 
with  only  partial  success.  The  only  thing  which 
seemed  to  move  her  at  all  was,  that  I did  not  want  to 
punish  her,  but  that  I could  not  let  her  do  many  things 
to-day  to  make  her  happy ; when  she  went  to  exhibi- 
tion I could  not  let  Sophia  talk  with  her,  and  could  not 
let  her  go  to  the  scholars’  party  in  the  evening,  because 
only  good  girls  went.  But  these  were  direct  appeals  to 
selfishness,  and  they  were  all  that  touched  her.  I did  not 
know  what  to  do,  and  never  felt  the  need  of  counsel 


232 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN '. 


more.  As  I liad  exhausted  every  argument,  I thought  I 
would  try  the  effect  of  a lesson  in  geography ; so 
taught  her  something  about  the  produce  of  different 
countries  of  Europe  and  of  their  manufactures.  She 
was  very  quiet  during  this,  and  also  a writing  lesson 
which  followed.  The  regular  lesson  for  the  last  hour’s 
school  would  have  been  the  reading  of  a story,  and  I 
thought  best  to  omit  it.  At  dinner,  she  seemed  to  be 
very  well  satisfied  with  herself.  When  it  was  time  to 
go  into  the  school-room  for  the  exhibition,  she  said,  “ I 
think  I had  better  not  go.”  I merely  said,  “ It  is  time,” 
and  took  her  hand  to  lead  her.  During  the  exhbition 
she  said,  “ Is  Sophia  here  ? ” I told  her  she  was  in  her 
desk  in  the  school-room.  “ I am  very  happy,”  was  the 
only  reply.  There  was  a spirit  of  defiance  in  Laura  that 
I had  never  seen  before.  A few  moments  after,  she 
attempted  to  kiss  me,  thinking  she  could  take  advan- 
tage of  the  presence  of  company.  She  answered  ques- 
tions readily  and  was  willing  to  do  what  I wished  her 
to  do.  A-t  seven,  I told  her  she  could  go  to  bed,  and 
she  went  without  any  objection,  but  still  with  the  same 
expression  of  countenance. 

Sunday , Feb.  4.  As  Laura  proposed  that  she  should 
sit  alone  to-day,  I left  her  this  forenoon  in  the  base- 
ment, where  she  had  seated  herself.  When  I returned 
from  church,  she  did  not  appear  to  be  troubled  at  all. 
I led  her  to  dinner  and  then  of  her  own  accord  she 
returned  to  the  same  place.  At  the  tea-table  she 
seemed  much  more  sad,  and  after  tea  I sat  down  by 
her  to  try  what  effect  I could  produce  then.  I could 
now  perceive  a great  difference,  and  after  I told  her  how 
wrong  it  was  that  she  did  not  feel  more  sad  for  doing 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


253 


wrong,  she  said,  “Ido  feel  very  sad  now.  I was  sad 
and  cried  this  afternoon,  and  thought  I was  very  wrong, 
and  I asked  God  to  forgive  me  and  send  me  good 
thoughts  and  to  love  me.”  She  then  asked  the  old 
question,  44  What  shall  I ask  God  first,  when  I ask  him 
to  give  me  good  thoughts  ? Must  I say, 4 Lord,  Father, 
my  Heavenly  ? ’ ” I answered  her  that  she  could  say 
just  what  she  thought  first.  I told  her  that  I was  glad 
that  she  felt  better  now  and  that  I would  forgive  her, 
and  I hoped  she  would  never  be  angry  again.  She 
said,  44  I think  I never  shall  do  so  again.  Why  do  I 
feel  so  very  sad  after  I ask  God  to  forgive  me,  and 
when  you  forgive  me  ? ” Told  her  because  she  felt  so 
sorry  she  had  done  wrong  at  all. 

If,  in  a faithful  chronicle,  the  record  of  these 
last* few  days  could  have  been  omitted,  it  would  be 
desirable  both  for  Laura  and  myself.  The  remem- 
brance of  my  anxiety  to  act  wisely  will  never  fade 
from  my  mind,  but  the  experience  of  added  years 
shows  me  that  in  those  first  few  moments  of 
excitement,  it  would  have  been  wiser  to  have 
avoided  the  issue,  and  obtained  submission  in  some 
other  way.  The  fact  that  visitors  were  momen- 
tarily expected  in  the  room,  and  the  desire  that  no 
one  should  see  Laura  under  such  circumstances, 
added  to  the  complications  on  my  part. 

I had  felt  for  some  time  that  a crisis  was  ap- 
proaching, for,  while  there  had  been  no. act  of  pos- 
itive disobedience,  yet  there  was  manifest  to  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  her  an  inclination  to 


234 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


submit  to  proper  authority  only  after  much  argu- 
ment. 

That  a development  like  this  should  come  as  a 
parenthesis  in  a lesson  in  which  she  was  much 
interested,  and  to  which  she  was  anxious  to  return, 
was  a surprise,  and  the  intensity  of  her  feeling 
was  not  suspected  by  me,  for  I supposed  I had 
only  to  say, " Are  you  angry  ? ” and  that  she  would 
recover  herself,  as  she  had  often  done  in  previous 
times  of  excitement.  Here  was  my  error,  and 
could  I have  seen  the  end  from  the  beginning,  I 
should  not  have  asked  the  question,  but  have  led 
her  quietly  to  her  own  room,  and  left  her  to  her 
meditations.  The  next  step,  unfortunately,  devel- 
oped the  worst  features  of  the  case,  — a declara- 
tion of  persistent  disobedience,  and  the  violent 
expression  of  passion,  which  was  more  like  an  ani- 
mal than  a human  being,  followed  by  the  assump- 
tion of  an  air  of  wilful  indifference. 

It  will  be  seen  that  she  rendered  literal  obedi- 
ence on  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  but  if  I had 
accepted  that,  her  own  conscience  would  not  have 
been  satisfied,  and  although  many  may  differ 
from  me  in  opinion,  I believe  that  all  good  effects 
of  this  trial  on  her  future  life  would  have  been 
lost. 

It  was  not  a desire  to  obtain  a passive  obedience  . 
to  my  stronger  will  which  led  me  to  take  the 
course  I did  at  this  time,  but  a thoughtful,  unim- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


235 


passioned  study  of  the  case,  and  the  cjnviction 
that  this  was  a crisis  in  which  she  was  to  conquer 
herself,  or  ever  after  to  be  subject  to  her  passions. 
Painfully  realizing  my  own  inexperience  and  lack 
of  wisdom,  with  no  one  to  share  the  responsibility, 
the  hours  of  waiting  seemed  days,  and  the  days, 
weeks.  It  would  have  been  far  easier  to  throw 
my  arms  about  her,  and  tell  her  how  much  sorrow 
she  was  givingme,  and  then  her  sympathies  would 
have  been  touched,  and,  as  had  often  happened 
before,  she  would  have  yielded,  only,  however, 
as  before,  to  be  overcome  again  very  soon. 

That  she  won  the  victory  at  last,  and  that  hers 
was  a true  repentance  no  one  will  doubt,  and 
when,  with  an  expression  which  she  could  so  well 
give  with  her  fingers,  she  said,  "I  think  I shall 
never  do  so  again,”  our  tears  flowed  together,  and 
she  did  not  doubt  my  love  for  her. 

Monday , Feb.  5.  Laura’s  arithmetic  lesson  was  in 
simple  fellowship,  and  she  performed  the  examples  with- 
out difficulty.  At  nine  gave  her  a lesson  on  the  ther- 
mometer ; explained  the  scale,  mixed  snow  and  salt  to 
show  her  how  far  the  raercury  would  go  down  in  the 
tube  She  was  delighted  with  the  lesson,  and  led  me 
from  room  to  room  waiting  in  each  to  see  its  tempera- 
ture. When  she  came  for  her  writing  lesson  she  asked, 
“ Why  do  I love  you  so  very  much  to-day?” 

Feb.  7.  At  this  time  Mr.  Fisher  was  painting  the 
picture  of  Laura  and  Oliver,  and  while  sitting  with  her 
in  his  studio,  I gave  her  a lesson  on  France.  When 


236 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


she  found  he  had  been  there,  she  had  many  questions 
to  ask. 

Feb.  8.  She  was  quite  indignant  when  told  in  a les- 
son on  bees  that  there  were  drones  among  them. 

Feb.  12.  In  reading  “The  Harvey  Boys,”  she  found 
the  word  “drunkards,”  and  asked  what  it  meant.  A 
long  conversation  followed  on  the  effects  of  different 
drinks,  how  men  behaved  who  drank  too  much  cider  or 
wine  or  rum  or  brandy.  She  said,  “ I want  to  talk  a 
long  time  about  drunkards.”  Told  her  I did  not  like 
to  think  or  talk  about  them.  “ Will  you  talk  about 
-'razy  people?  Will  you  talk  about  dizzy  people ? * 
She  has  always  confounded  these  two  words,  though 
they  have  often  been  explained  to  her. 

Feb.  13.  Last  evening  Laura  was  in  a very  happy 
mood,  and  before  she  went  to  bed  she  informed  Miss  J. 
that  she  was  going  to  caper.  This  word  she  had  just 
learned.  Hearing  a great  noise,  we  went  up  quietly  to 
see  what  she  was  doing.  We  found  her  ready  for  bed, 
but  jumping  from  the  bedstead  and  running  to  the  next 
room,  then  returning  to  do  the  same.  This  she  con- 
tinued half  a dozen  times  and  then  threw  herself  down 
exhausted.  After  resting,  she  commenced  it  again  and 
continued  it  for  a quarter  of  an  hour,  occasionally  stop- 
ping to  see  the  effect  on  the  sacking  which  held  the  bed, 
and  when  she  discovered  that  it  was  dropping  down, 
she  laughed  most  heartily.  Tired  of  this,  she  swung 
her  closet  door  violently  on  its  hinges  for  five  minutes, 
until  I feared  she  would  suffer  from  cold,  and  spoke  to 
her  to  tell  her  it  was  time  to  go  to  sleep.  It  was  a very 
ludicrous  scene,  and  I presume  it  was  all  suggested  to 
her  by  something  which  I had  said  when  explaining  the 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


237 


word  “ caper.”  She  had  thought  it  over,  and  then 
decided  she  would  try  it  herself.  This  morning  I 
laughed  with  her  about  it  and  told  her  she  must  have  a 
bed  of  iron  if  she  wished  to  use  it  to  jump  upon,  and 
that  she  must  go  up  to  bed  at  seven  o’clock,  so  as  not 
to  disturb  the  girls  who  went  to  bed  early.  “Ido  not 
want  to  caper  any  more,”  she  said.  “ I did  it  last  night 
because  I thought  Doctor  was  coming  so  soon.”  I had 
told  her  that  the  young  lambs  capered  to  express  their 

joy- 

Feb.  23.  She  asked  about  jails,  — if  they  had  win- 
dows, etc.,  and  then  imagined  herself  there,  and  said, 
4 4 What  would  you  do  if  I had  to  go  to  jail?  What 
would  Doctor  say  ? ” etc.  In  her  walk  to  the  Point  to- 
day, she  was  much  interested  in  examining  the  blocks  of 
ice  which  had  been  thrown  one  upon  another  by  the 
tide.  As  it  was  low  water,  we  could  walk  around  among 
them.  She  showed  that  she  had  some  appreciation 
of  the  descriptions  of  Swiss  scenery  that  had  been 
given  her,  by  saying,  44  I think  they  are  like  mountains 
and  glaciers.” 

Feb.  24.  She  is  advancing  very  slowly  now  in 
arithmetic,  her  lessons  being  in  the  last  miscellaneous 
examples  in  Colburn’s  Mental  Arithmetic.  Yesterday 
she  succeeded  in  performing  several  and  then  found  one 
which  puzzled  her,  so  it  was  left  for  this  morning’s  les- 
son. This  morning  she  had  the  answer  ready  for  me, 
having  thought  it  out  by  herself.  She  was  much 
pleased  with  some  of  the  visitors  to-day,  when  told  they 
were  from  Scotland,  England,  and  the  Azore  Islands. 

Fib.  26.  For  some  time  I have  been  desirous  of 
knowing  how  much  she  remembered  about  words  which 


238 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


were  taught  her  long  ago,  many  of  which  she  had  prob- 
ably  never  had  occasion  to  use,  and  for  a review  decided 
it  would  be  a good  exercise  for  her  to  take  my  old  jour- 
nal of  two  years  ago.  She  liked  the  plan.  We  found 
many  words  which  she  had  forgotten,  and  some  of  which 
she  had  very  incorrect  ideas,  while  there  were  many  that 
she  explained  perfectly,  although  she  has  never  used 
them. 

Talking  of  families,  she  asked,  44  Are  there  families 
in  heaven  ? ” I notice  a marked  difference  in  her  man- 
ner of  talking  about  the  same  words  now ; she  asks  so 
many  questions  showing  a great  increase  in  intelligence. 

Feb.  29.  After  working  a long  time  she  finished  an 
example  in  arithmetic,  and  when  it  was  accomplished  it 
seemed  so  easy  to  her  that  she  said,  44  I am  very  dull.” 
Having  completed  our  44  talks”  upon  the  countries  of 
Europe,  I gave  her  a review  lesson  on  the  boundaries 
of  all  the  countries,  and  was  surprised  to  find  what  a 
correct  idea  she  had  of  their  situation.  She  asked  me  to 
define  pauper;  4 4 the  book  says,  there  are  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-nine  paupers.”  The  question  •*  Where  ? ” 
showed  that  she  had  only  read  so  much  of  the  sentence, 
but  when  referred  to  the  book  she  replied,  44In  the 
United  States.”  It  will  be  long,  I fear,  before  she  will 
be  able  to  read  correctly,  owing  to  this  habit  of  taking 
part  of  the  author’s  meaning ; but  she  enjoys  reading 
very  much.  She  brought  many  words  for  explanation 
from  44  The  Harvey  Boys.”  Vice  was  explained  to  her 
us  something  wrong,  and  she  said,  44 1 viced  last  week.” 
As  I was  explaining  the  word  4 4 limbs  ” in  its  various 
uses,  she  stopped  me  to  ask,  44  How  can  God  help  hear- 
ing when  I ask  him  to  forgive  me?”  I had  to  tell  her 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


239 


that  I did  not  want  to  talk  about  it  until  Dr.  Howe 
answered  her  letters,  and  returned  to  the  other  subject, 
saying  that  the  snow  was  falling  fast,  and  the  limbs 
of  the  trees  were  loaded  with  it.  Another  day,  she 
as  suddenly  changed  the  conversation  by  asking,  “ How 
large  is  heaven  ? Is  there  a door  to  heaven  ? and  how 
does  the  sky  look  ? What  is  it  made  of?  ” 

March  6 The  deaf-mute  pupils  from  the  Hartford 
Asylum  were  to  give  an  exhibition  at  the  State  House. 
Laura  was  told  of  it  and  that  I was  going  to  attend,  and 
was  very  particular  in  her  directions  to  me  to  see  what 
signs  they  made,  and  to  tell  her.  She  has  had  a num- 
ber of  visitors  who  have  been  educated  at  Hartford, 
and  is  always  much  amused  by  the  signs  they  made. 
As  she  has  never  been  taught  anything  but  the  finger 
alphabet,  of  course  their  signs  are  without  meaning  to 
her. 

March  7.  We  received  notice  that  the  Governor 
and  Council,  and  Mr.  Weld  with  his  deaf-mute  pupils, 
would  visit  us  this  afternoon,  and  as  is  always  my  cus- 
tom, when  there  is  to  be  any  such  unusual  excitement 
for  Laura,  I prepared  for  this  visit  by  taking  a walk  of 
five  miles  with  her.  I reported  to  her  the  exhibition 
yesterday,  and  told  her  how  very  well  all  the  little  girls 
behaved,  and  she  said  she  should  try  to  do  as  well  to-day 
as  the  girls  did  yesterday.  When  they  arrived,  Laura 
had  many  questions  to  ask  about  Julia  Brace,  the  deaf, 
dumb,  and  blind  woman,  who  was  here  for  a time,  and 
in  whom  she  was  much  interested.  One  of  the  girls 
asked  her  where  she  was  brought  up.  As  she  did  not 
understand  that  expression,  she  changed  it  to,  “ Where 
were  you  born?”  Laura  did  not  reply  to  her,  but 


240 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


turned  to  me,  and  said  quite  indignantly,  “I  cannot 
remember  when  I was  born.”  Mr.  Weld,  the  teacher, 
talked  to  her  some  time,  and  as  he  was  leaving  her, 
said,  “ I love  you  and  I will  pray  God  to  bless  you.” 
She  immediately  turned  to  me  and  said,  “What  is 
pra}^?”  “To  ask  God.”  “What  is  bless?”  “To 
give  you  good  thoughts.”  Nothing  more  was  said  to 
me. 

March  8.  Laura  appeared  very  thoughtful  this  morn- 
ing, and  said,  when  she  came  for  her  lesson,  “Will  it 
do  any  good  for  Mr.  Weld  to  .pray  God  to  bless  me?” 
She  sat  thinking  for  a while,  and  then  said,  “Will  we  be 
afraid  to  die  ? ” I asked  why  we  should  be  afraid  to 
die.  She  replied,  “Because  we  do  not  know  any  one,” 
meaning  in  heaven.  I saw  she  had  not  given  me  all 
her  reasons,  so  repeated  the  question,  and  she  said  hes- 
itatingly, 4 4 Because  we  cannot  be  very  sure  that  God 
will  want  us.  We  cannot  know  that  we  have  been  very 
good  when  we  live  here,  and  we  should  be  afraid  he 
would  not  want  us  in  heaven.”  I was  surprised  at  this 
conversation,  for  she  must  have  been  thinking  much 
upon  the  subject,  and  to  be  working  out  by  herself  many 
truths . 

Governor  Briggs  asked  her  to  write  a letter  to  him. 
She  was  anxious  that  the  writing  should  be  very  nice. 

Eighth  of  March. 

My  Dear  Governor: 

I am  very  glad  that  you  take  care  of  people,  & that 
you  are  very  kind.  Yesterday  I sent  Julia  Brace  a 
present  to  please  her  very  much,  & I hope  that  she 
will  remember  me  for  many  years.  She  was  here  one 
year,  & we  all  loved  her  very  much.  I was  sad  she 


LATJRA  BRIDGMAN. 


241 


went -away  & could  never  learn  here  anymore.  I should 
like  to  have  you  come  to  see  me  & the  blind  girls  again 
when  you  can.  Dear  friend,  good-b^e. 

March  11.  She  inquired  into  the  cause  of  choking 
when  drinking,  and  this  opened  the  way  for  her  first 
lesson  in  ph}Tsiology.  She  had  many  questions  to  ask, 
as,  “How  can  men  know  we  have  wind-pipes?  Are 
they  made  of  iron?”  Asked  her  if  she  thought  hers 
was  iron,  and  she  said,  “No,  flesh.”  Yesterday  Miss 
Rogers  came  from  church  a few  moments  before  I did, 
and  found  Laura  reading  u The  Book  of  Psalms,”  and 
looking  very  pale  and  much  excited.  She  said,  “ God 
is  angry  with  the  wicked  every  day.  I was  angry  this 
year  and  last  year,  and  I deceived  Swift  many  times.” 
Miss  R.  changed  the  subject,  and  got  her  interested  in 
something  else,  but  when  I came  home  she  began  on 
the  same  subject ; she  said,  “ God  will  judge  all  people. 
What  is  judge  ? ” I told  her  she  could  not  understand 
all  that  book  now,  but  that  when  Dr.  Howe  came  home 
she  would  learn  more.  Her  countenance  brightened, 
and  she  said,  “ When  are  you  going  to  teach  me  about 
God  and  heaven  ? ” 

March  12.  Having  walked  to  the  city  with  Laura, 
found  I could  take  her  on  board  a brig  just  arrived  from 
Lubec,  Germany.  While  we  were  there  the  vessel 
moved  from  one  part  of  the  wharf  to  another.  She 
expressed  much  fear  that  we  should  go  too  far,  and 
asked  me  to  “ tell  the  men  to  throw  the  anchor.”  ^ Had 
a very  good  opportunity  to  teach  her  many  new  words. 
The  various  parts  of  the  ship,  masts,  ropes,  cables, 
cabin,  etc.,  as  we  were  allowed  to  go  about  as  we  chose. 

16 


242 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


After  getting  home  we  talked  it  all  over,  so  she  might 
write  an  account  of  her  visit  to-morrow.  Reviewed 
North  America,  which  she  remembers  well. 

March  13.  Find  she  has  forgotten  more  on  South 
America  than  on  any  other  map  ; but  the  wonder  is 
she  remembers  as  much  as  she  does.  In  her  lesson 
yesterday  I told  her  we  spoke  of  the  sun  as  he,  and  to- 
day she  asked,  “Does  he  shine?”  thinking  that  the 
improved  way  of  asking  the  question.  When  telling 
me  about  some  punishments  that  she  received  long  ago, 
she  said  she  was  put  in  a closet,  and  asked,  “ Wlty  do 
you  not  punish  me  so  now?  Why  do  my  thoughts 
punish  me  now?”  She  is  very  industrious,  and  has 
knit  four  purses  this  week. 

This  is*  not  a forced  industry  ; indeed,  it  is  hard  to 
induce  her  to  rest  when  we  think  she  is  weary.  She 
takes  up  her  work  immediately  on  returning  from  a 
long  walk,  when  most  girls  would  think  they  had  a 
good  excuse  for  being  idle,  and  even  in  the  recesses, 
between  the  hours  of  school,  she  occupies  every  mo- 
ment. At  the  beginning  of  the  week  she  delights  in 
making  her  plans,  and  wishes  me  to  select  the  various 
colors  of  silk  she  is  to  use,  so  that  she  may  lose  no 
time  in  waiting  for  them.  Once  having  told  her  how 
they  are  to  be  arranged  I leave  it  entirely  to  her,  and 
she  rarely  forgets,  or  has  to  ask  me  anything  about 
them.  If  there  is  any  new  pattern  or  the  st3Tle  of  work 
is  to  be  changed,  she  learns  it  quickly,  far  more  so  than 
many  do  who  can  see,  and  she  enjoys  a variety. 

March  18.  At  nine  this  morning  she  brought  me  a 
letter  which  she  had  written  to  Mrs.  Morton,  her  old 
teacher.  She  has  so  much  to  say  to  her,  and  feels  so 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


243 


sure  that  she  will  have  no  difficulty  in  understanding 
it,  that  she  is  very  careless  about  the  writing,  and  it 
took  some  time  to  correct  all  the  mistakes.  This  I do, 
not  upon  the  letters,  but  merely  as  a good  exercise  for 
her.  When  this  was  done,  she  produced  a paper  with 
the  following  words  upon  it:  “perish,  example,  prop- 
erty, repeated,  prince,  lest,  proverbs,  afflicted,  advice, 
recommend,  poverty,  wretched,  chapters,  pervert,  an 
allusion,  Jews,  insensible,  Romans,  Saviour,  offered, 
mingled,  crucified,  disgraceful,  writer.  Will  you  tell 
me  what  they  mean?”  she  said.  I told  her  I thought 
it  would  be  best  for  her  to  ask  me  those  that  she  could 
remember,  rather  than  for  me  to  read  them  from  the 
paper  to  her,  as  she  would  remember  them  longer. 
Her  custom  is,  after  I give  the  definition,  to  frame  a 
sentence  and  introduce  the  word.  She  began  with 
“ perish  ” ; was  told  it  meant  to  die,  and  said,  “ Betsy 
Smith  perished  last  summer.”  Of  “ poverty”  she  said 
nothing  in  reply  to  the  meaning  given.  “ Romans  ” and 
“Jews”  she  understood  easily  about,  but  “advice” 
seemed  to  be  harder  for  her.  She  asked,  “Are  4 ad- 
vice ’ and  ‘ description’  the  same  ? ” Left  it  for  another 
time.  “ Offered,  writer,  disgraceful,  and  afflicted”  she 
applied  correctly  at  once.  When  told  that  I did  not 
think  she  could  understand  Proverbs  now,  she  said, 
“ The  Harvey  boys  said  it  ” ; and  that  she  thought  a 
reason  that  she  should  know  it  too. 

I gave  her  the  words  “ setting  a good  example  and  a 
bad  example.”  She  was  much  pleased  with  them,  and 
said,  “ Frank  set  Susan*  a very  bad  example  yester- 


* Two  little  deaf-mute  children. 


244 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


day  ; he  opened  the  drawers  and  Susan  rubbed  his  hand 
(a  sign  of  wrong)  and  said  he  was  wrong.  That  was  a 
very  bad  example.”  This  was  one  of  the  lessons  that 
has  no  stopping-place,  and  she  presses  her  questions 
upon  me  so  rapidly  that  I am  obliged  to  overstep  the 
bounds  of  prudence,  though  I think  it  does  her  more 
injury  to  be  held  back  than  to  gratify  her  desire  for 
knowledge.  When  writing  in  her  journal  she  told  me 
she  had  used  three  new  words,  “ neither,  nor,  and 
violently.” 

March  19.  Reviewed  yesterday’s  lesson,  and  found 
that  many  of  the  words  she  understood  correctly,  while 
of  others,  as  “proverbs”  and  “ advice,”  she  got  no 
correct  idea.  She  asked  the  meaning  of  ‘ ‘ prince,”  and 
wrote  in  her  journal  of  the  da}^,  “ God  is  a prince, 
because  He  takes  care  of  his  people.”  Commenced  th'  > 
maps  of  Asia,  and  she  learned  the  boundaries  of  Sibe 
ria,  the  large  rivers,  rise  and  course,  bays,  seas,  moun 
tains,  and  islands  in  the  Arctic  Ocean. 

March  20.  The  whole  hour  was  occupied  in  doin$ 
one  sum,  but  as  so  often  happens,  she  did  all  the  diffi- 
cult part  very  easily,  and  then  got  puzzled  on  a simpk 
thing. 

March  21.  She  did  two  examples,  frequently  com- 
plimenting herself  on  her  uncommon  acuteness.  One 
question  was  about  the  trees  in  an  orchard : “ One  half 
the  trees  bear  apples,”  etc. ; she  stopped  to  ask,  “ Did 
you  ever  eat  any  bear  apples  ? ” She  had  never  hap- 
pened to  know  any  other  use  of  that  word  but  as  the 
name  of  an  animal,  and  probably  supposed  that  the 
apples  were  a kind  which  bears  liked  to  eat.  Before 
the  arithmetic  lesson  could  go  on  it  was  necessary  to 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


245 


explain,  and  give  all  the  parts  of  the  verb.  Later  in 
the  day  she  talked  of  a lady  whom  she  much  admired, 
and  thought  she  should  like  to  be  as  graceful  herself  as 
Miss  L.,  and  tried  experiments  to  see  how  well  she 
could  imitate  her  in  bowing,  courtesying,  etc.,  but  not 
very  successfully. 

March  22.  Occasionally  still  there  comes  a feeling 
akin  to  jealousy,  when  she  thinks  of  Dr.  Howe’s  new 
relations;  this  morning  she  said,  “Doctor  loves  his 
wife  best  of  any.”  There  was  a cloud  on  her  brow 
when  she  asked,  “Does  he  love  you  like  her?”  which 
lifted  considerably  at  my  answer,  though  she  said, 
“ Why  no,  how  do  you  know  ? I love  him  best  of  any, 
why  does  he  not  love  me  ? ” This  feeling  does  not 
extend  to  Mrs.  H.  at  all,  for  she  always  speaks  of 
loving  her  very  much,  and  is  delighted  with  the  letters 
she  writes  to  her.  The  following  is  a copy  of  a letter 
written  while  she  was  anxiously  waiting  an  answer  to 
hers  of  January  28th. 

24th  March,  1844. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Howe: 

I want  to  see  you  very  much,  I hope  that  you  will 
come  to  South  Boston  in  May.  I have  got  a bad  cough, 
for  I got  cold  when  I came  home,  in  much  snow  with 
Miss  Swift,  but  my  cough  is  a little  better.  When  you 
come  home  I shall  be  very  happy  to  have  you  teach  me 
in  the  Psalms  Book,*  about  God  and  many  new  things 
I read  in  the  Harvey  Boys  book,  every  Sunday.  I am 
learning  Asia  now,  I will  tell  you  all  about  new  things 
to  please  you  very  much.  Why  do  you  not  write  a 

* The  Book  of  Psalms  was  printed  for  the  blind  and  bound  in  one 

volume. 


246 


LAVRA  BRIDGMAN. 


letter  to  me  often?  Do  you  always  pray  to  God  to 
bless  me  ? I think  of  you  often.  I send  a great  deal 
of  love  to  you  & Mrs.  Howe.  I shall  be  very  happy 
to  see  you  & her  when  you  come  home.  I always 
miss  you  much.  All  the  girls  & I & Lurena  had  a 
very  pleasant  sleighing  to  a hotel.  We  had  a nice 
drink  of  lemon  & sugar  & mince  pie  & sponge 
cake.  Governor  Briggs  came  twice  to  see  us  & the 
blind  scholars.  We  are  all  well  & happy  & strong. 
I have  not  seen  you  for  ten  months,  that  is  very  long. 
I wrote  a letter  to  Governor  & he  wrote  a letter  to 
me,  long  ago.  Mr.  Clifford  is  a doctor  now  to  cure  Ms 
wife.  I wrote  a letter  to  her.  I want  you  to  write  a 
letter  to  me.  Miss  Swift  sends  her  love  to  you.  Are 
you  in  a hurry  to  see  me  & J.  again?  I would  like  co 
live  with  you  & your  wife  in  a new  house,  because  I 
love  you  the  best.  All  folks  are  very  well  and  happy. 
I want  you  to  answer  my  last  letter  to  you  about  God 
& heaven,  & souls  & many  questions. 

My  dear  friend,  good  bye. 

Laura  Bridgman. 

March  27.  Completed  Colburn’s  Mental  Arithme- 
tic. 

At  this  time  I did  not  realize  what  a remarkable 
work  she  had  accomplished  in  a few  days  over  a 
year,  having  commenced  the  hook  March  17,  184d. 
With  the  exception  of  two  vacations  of  three  weeks, 
and  some  few  days  of  illness,  she  had  had  a daily 
lesson  of  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  Having  for 
many  years  since  watched  carefully  the  progress 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


247 


of  other  girls  and  boys  of  all  grades  of  intellect, 
in  the  study  of  this  same  book,  I should  be  in- 
clined to-day  to  doubt  my  own  journal,  did  I not 
find  each  day’s  work  registered,  so  that  with  the 
book  before  me  I can  follow  it  step  by  step. 

She  was  never  allowed  to  leave  any  subject 
until  she  thoroughly  understood  it,  and  this  was 
not  accomplished  by  doing  the  work  for  her,  but 
by  putting  questions  to  her  which  she  could 
answer,  and  so  gradually  letting  light  in  upon  dif- 
ficulties ; she  always  went  from  her  lesson  feel- 
ing that  she  had  performed  the  examples  herself. 

The  effect  of  the  mental  discipline  obtained  from 
this  study  has  been  perceptible  through  all  her 
life.  Her  feelings  towards  Mrs.  Howe  are  shown 
in  the  following  letter,  dated  — 

April  2,  1844. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Howe: 

I want  to  see  you  very  much.  I hope  you  are  very 
well.  I think  of  you  very,  very  often.  I was  very 
much  pleased  to  receive  a letter  from  you  and  I liked  it 
very  much.  When  you  come  home,  I shall  shake  your 
hands  & hug  & kiss  jtou  very  hard,  because  I love 
you  & am  your  dear  friend.  Are  you  very  glad  to 
receive  letters  from  me  ? One  night  I dreamed  that  I 
was  very  glad  to  see  you  again.  I hope  you  do  not 
forget  to  talk  with  your  fingers. 

I am  sad  that  people  are  very  idle  & dirty  & poor 
(in  Home).  My  mother  wrote  a letter  to  Miss  J.  that 
she  was  very  sick  & my  little  sister  was  quite  sick, 
but  thej  are  getting  well.  I am  very  well.  I am  your 


248 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


very  dear  friend.  I try  very  hard  about  America  & 
Europe  & Asia  & many  other  things.  I learned 
philosophy  long  ago.  I can  say  ship,  paper,  doctor, 
baby,  tea,  mother,  father  (mamma,  papa),  with  my 
mouth.  My  teacher  always  reads  a story  to  me ; she 
is  kind  to  me  ; she  sets  me  a good  example. 

My  dear  friend,  good  bye. 

April  3.  When  Laura  came  for  her  lesson  she  said, 
4 4 My  heart  beats  very  quick,  it  is  sick.”  44  Long  ago, 
when  Miss  Drew  was  my  teacher,  my  heart  beat  quick 
and  ached  because  I felt  very  sad  that  Adeline  died, 
& I did  not  know  about  going  to  heaven.”  44  Does  that 
make  your  heart  ache  now  ? ” 44  Monday  I thought  much 
about  my  dear  best  friend  and  why  I should  die;  it 
made  my  heart  beat  quick,  and  I thought  if  I should 
know  when  He  took  my  breath,  & I tried  to  draw 
breath  & could  not.  Do  you  lose  your  breath?” 
To  change  the  conversation  I replied,  44  Yes,  when  I run 
up  stairs  quickly.”  44  I have  lost  part  of  the  heart,  it 
is  not  so  large  as  it  was  when  I was  small.”  44  Where 
did  you  lose  it  ? ” 44 1 think  it  went  to  lungs.  My  blood 
ran  quickly  and  made  my  heart  beat  very  quickly.” 

April  8.  Conversed  with  Laura  about  the  railroad 
that  is  to  be  built  from  St.  Petersburg  to  Moscow,  tell- 
ing her  the  Russians  were  going  to  have  Americans  to 
build  it,  the  distance,  expense,  etc.  She  asked  how 
the  people  could  get  four  millions  of  dollars  to  pay  for 
it.  This  introduced  the  Emperor  Nicholas,  his  rank, 
office,  and  then  she  asked,  “What  is  the  man  called 
who  takes  care  of  Americans?”  Told  her  about  the 
President,  his  name  and  residence,  and  asked  her  if 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


249 


she  remembered  Harrison.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
seeing  others  with  crape  on  their  wrists,  she  made  a 
band  for  herself.  She  remembered  this,  and  asked  wh}’ 
people  wore  it.  This  introduced  the  subject  of  wear- 
ing black  in  mourning,  which  she  had  never  known  any- 
thing about  before.  When  speaking  of  Harrison  I told 
her  that  people  were  sad  because  they  could  not  have 
him  to  take  care  of  them  ; she  said  quickly,  “ Were  they 
sad  that  he  went  to  heaven  and  was  very  happy 
there?”  In  geography  her  lesson  was  on  China,  and 
she  was  delighted  to  hear  of  the  strange  customs  of  the 
people,  expressing  much  surprise,  especially  at  their 
manner  of  reading  from  right  to  left,  the  great  wall,  etc. 

April  11 . Gave  her  a lesson  on  the  discovery  of 
America  by  Columbus,  the  part  of  the  continent  which 
he  found,  and  commenced  the  account  of  the  colonies ; 
but  history  has  so  many  dark  pages  that  I find  it  diffi- 
cult to  tell  her  a connected  story  without  alluding  to 
wars,  and  this  would  be  so  terrible  to  her  that  I can- 
not think  of  beginning  it  at  present. 

April  18.  She  reviewed  three  sections  in  arithmetic 
very  successfully.  She  has  been  reviewing  the  last 
miscellaneous  examples,  and  had  to  study  on  some  of 
them  some  time  before  getting  them  right,  having  for- 
gotten her  former  work,  but  this  was  not  more  notice- 
able than  with  all  the  other  girls.  For  a review  of 
Europe  and  Asia  took  her  to  the  great  globe,  and  as 
before,  she  found  all  the  localities  readity. 

April  19.  She  was  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight,  hugging 
me  almost  to  suffocation  because  she  was  to  begin  the 
map  of  Africa.  What  the  special  attraction  of  this  map 
is,  I cannot  find,  but  she  has  been  looking  forward  to 
it  with  great  anticipations. 


250 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Laura  received  to-day  Dr.  Howe’s  reply  to  her 
letter  of  January  28. 

My  Dear  Little  Laura: 

Mrs.  Howe  has  a sweet  little  baby ; — it  is  a little 
girl ; we  shall  call  her  Julia ; she  is  very  smooth  and 
soft  and  nice  ; she  does  not  cry  much,  and  we  love  her 
very,  very  much.  You  love  her  too,  I think,  do  3rou 
not?  But  you  never  felt  of  her,  and  she  never  kissed 
you,  and  how  can  you  love  her?  It  is  not  your  hands, 
nor  your  body,  nor  your  head,  which  loves  her  and 
loves  me,  but  your  soul.  If  your  hand  were  to  be  cut 
off,  you  would  love  me  the  same  ; so  it  is  not  the  body 
which  loves.  Nobody  knows  what  the  soul  is,  but  we 
know  it  is  not  the  bod^y,  and  cannot  be  hurt  like  the 
body ; and  when  the  body  dies  the  soul  cannot  die. 
You  ask  me  in  your  letter  a great  many  things  about 
the  soul  and  about  God ; but,  my  dear  little  girl,  it 
would  take  very  much  time  and  very  many  sheets  of 
paper  to  tell  you  all  I think  about  it,  and  I am  very 
busy  with  taking  care  of  my  dear  wife  ; but  I shall  try 
to  tell  you  a little,  and  you  must  wait  until  I come 
home,  in  June,  we  will  talk  very  much  about  all  these 
things.  You  have  been  angry  a few  times,  and  you 
have  known  others  to  be  angry,  and  you  know  what  I 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


251 


mean  by  anger;  you  love  me  and  many  friends,  and 
you  know  what  I mean  by  love.  When  I say  there  is  a 
spirit  of  love  in  the  world,  I mean  that  good  people  love 
each  other ; but  you  cannot  feel  the  spirit  of  love  with 
your  fingers  ; it  has  no  shape,  no  body  ; it  is  not  in  one 
place  more  than  in  another,  yet  wherever  there  are  good 
people  there  is  a spirit  of  love.  God  is  a spirit,  the 
spirit  of  love.  If  you  go  into  a house,  and  the  children 
tell  you  that  their  father  whips  them,  and  will  not  feed 
them ; if  the  house  is  cold  an  dirty,  and  everybody 
is  sad  and  frightened,  because  the  father  is  bad  and 
angry  and  cruel,  you  will  know  that  the  father  has  no 
spirit  of  love.  You  never  felt  of  him,  you  never  had 
him  strike  you,  you  do  not  know  what  man  he  is,  and 
yet  you  know  he  has  not  the  spirit  of  love  ; that  is,  he 
is  not  a good,  kind  father.  If  you  go  into  another 
house,  and  the  children  are  all  warm,  and  well  fed,  and 
well  taught,  and  are  very  happy,  and  everybody  tells 
you  that  the  father  did  all  this,  and  made  them  happy, 
then  3Tou  know  he  has  the  spirit  of  love  ; you  never  saw 
him,  and  yet  you  know  certainly  that  he  is  good,  and 
you  may  say  that  the  spirit  of  love  reigns  in  that  house. 
Now,  my  dear  child,  I go  all  about  in  this  great  world, 
and  I see  it  filled  with  beautiful  things,  and  there  are  a 
great  many  millions  of  people,  and  there  is  food  for 
ihem,  and  fire  for  them,  and  clothes  for  them,  and  they 
can  be  happy  if  they  have  the  mind  to  be,  and  if  they 
will  love  each  other.  All  this  world,  and  all  these  peo- 
ple, and  all  the  animals,  and  all  things,  were  made  by 
God.  He  is  not  a man,  nor  like  a man  ; I cannot  see 
him,  nor  feel  him,  any  more  than  jtou  saw  and  felt  the 
good  father  of  that  family  ; but  I know  that  he  has  the 


252 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


spirit  of  love,  because  he  too  provided  everything  to 
make  all  the  people  happy.  God  wants  everybody  to 
be  happy  all  the  time,  every  day,  Sundays  and  all.  and 
to  love  one  another ; and  if  they  love  one  another  they 
will  be  happy ; and  when  their  bodies  die,  their  souls 
will  live  On,  and  be  happy,  and  then  they  will  know 
more  about  God. 

The  good  father  of  the  family  I spoke  to  you  about 
let  his  children  do  as  they  wished  to  do,  because  he 
loved  to  have  them  free  ; but  he  let  them  know  that  he 
wished  them  to  love  each  other  and  to  do  good  ; and  if 
they  obeyed  his  will  they  were  happy ; but  if  they  did 
not  love  each  other,  or  if  they  did  any  wrong,  they 
were  unhappy  ; and  if  one  child  did  wrong  it  made  the 
others  unhappy  too.  So  in  the  great  world.  God  left 
men  and  women  and  children  to  do  as  they  wished, 
and  let  them  know  if  they  love  one  another  and  do  good 
they  will  be  happy  ; but  if  they  do  wrong,  they  will  be 
unhappy,  and  make  others  unhappy  likewise. 

I will  try  to  tell  you  why  people  have  pain  sometimes, 
and  are  sick,  and  die  ; but  I cannot  take  so  much  time 
and  paper  now.  But  you  must  be  sure  that  God  loves 
you,  and  loves  ever}rbody,  and  wants  you  and  every- 
body to  be  happy ; and  if  you  love  everybody,  and  do 
them  all  the  good  you  can,  and  try  to  make  them  happy, 
you  will  be  very  happy  j’ourself,  and  will  be  much  hap- 
pier after  your  body  dies  than  you  are  now. 

Dear  little  Laura,  I love  you  very  much.  I want  you 
to  be  happy  and  good.  I want  you  to  know  many 
things,  but  you  must  be  patient  and  learn  eas}^  things 
first  and  hard  ones  afterwards.  When  you  were  a 
little  baby,  you  could  not  walk,  and  you  learned  first 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


253 


to  creep  on  your  ,kands  and  knees,  and  then  to  walk  a 
little,  and  by  and  by  you  grew  strong,  and  walked 
much.  It  would  be  wrong  for  a little  child  to  want  to 
walk  ver}r  far  before  it  was  strong.  Your  mind  is 
young  and  weak,  and  cannot  understand  hard  things, 
but  by  and  by  it  will  be  stronger,  and  you  will  be  able 
to  understand  hard  things,  and  I and  my  wife  will  help 
Miss  Swift  to  show  you  all  about  things  that  now  you 
do  not  know.  Be  patient,  then,  dear  Laura ; be  obe- 
dient to  your  teacher,  and  to  those  older  than  you  ; love 
everybody  and  do  not  be  afraid. 

Good  by ! I shall  come  soon,  and  we  will  talk  and 
be  happy.  Your  true  friend, 

Doctor. 

This  letter  was  read  twice  to  her,  but  she  made 
no  conversation  upon  it,  nor  did  she  ever  allude 
to  it  afterwards.  Although  she  understood  each 
separate  word,  I think  the  argument  was  beyond 
her  capacity.  She  was  much  excited  on  hearing 
of  the  baby,  and  pleased  with  her  name. 

In  four  lessons  she  completed  the  tour  of  Africa. 
For  some  time  she  has  yielded  to  her  inclination  to 
utter  disagreeable  sounds  more  frequently  than  before, 
and  I tried  to  have  her  understand  the  bad  effects  of 
such  noises  on  others.  She  argued  in  their  favor,  say- 
ing, “ I have  very  much  voice,  God  gave  me  much 
voice.”  We  compromised  the  matter  in  this  way:  she 
is  to  make  no  noises  until  half  past  one,  and  then,  for 
an  hour,  she  is  to  shut  herself  in  her  room,  and  make 
as  many  as  she  wishes  to. 


254 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


April  29.  Yesterday,  Laura  occupied  herself  in 
writing  letters,  and  I noticed  that  she  had  dated  them 
all  wrong.  She  insisted  upon  its  being  the  thirtieth  to- 
day, “ because  April  has  thirty  days,  and  Doctor  went 
a year  ago  the  first  day  of  May  and  that  was  Monday, 
so  Sunday  was  the  last  day  of  April.”  Her  process  of 
reasoning  was  very  amusing,  and  would  have  been  all 
right  if  this  year  had  not  been  Leap  Year,  which  she  had 
never  heard  of  before.  One  of  our  visitors  wished  me 
to  tell  Laura  that  he  was  from  Wales.  She  was  very 
ready  in  answering  his  questions,  and  telling  him  what 
she  knew  about  his  country. 

May  SO.  Many  of  the  scholars  were  to  go  to  Boston 
to  enjoy  the  sounds  of  the  great  temperance  procession, 
and  I thought  it  a good  time  to  give  Laura  a lesson  on  that 
subject.  She  has  been  much  interested  in  it  since  she 
read  u The  Harvey  Boys,”  and  found  there  was  such  a 
thing  as  a drunkard.  When  I told  her  how  many  men 
would  walk,  she  remembered  the  celebration  of  the  17th 
of  June,  and  said,  “ I can  go  and  feel  the  drums.” 
She  asked  if  they  had  anything  beside  drums,  and  made 
a sign  of  drawing  the  bow,  not  knowing  the  word  violin, 
and  told  me  she  thought  the  bow  was  made  of  the  tail 
of  some  animal.  6 1 Why  do  the  people  walk?”  Told 
her  it  was  to  show  that  they  did  not  drink  rum  or 
brandy.  “ That  is  right,  we  cannot  have  any  men  that 
love  to  drink  such  liquors.”  It  was  a mystery  to  her 
how  so  man}^  men  happened  to  come  to  Boston  at  once. 
Explained  to  her  that  the  friends  of  temperance  in  Bos- 
ton invited  those  from  other  towns  to  come,  and  have  a 
great  meeting,  and  that  Gov.  Briggs  would  ride  in  a 
carriage  with  four  white  horses.  She  was  sure  she 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


255 


never  knew  there  were  white  horses,  and  asked  if  they 
would  not  get  soiled  quickly,  lying  on  the  ground.  One 
of  her  questions  was,  “Do  poor  people  walk  in  the 
procession  ? How  can  they  walk  without  any  shoes  ? ” 
Some  time  ago  I had  told  her  about  a poor  family,  and 
that  the  children  had  no  shoes,  therefore  she  thinks  that 
all  poor  people  have  no  shoes.  When  talking  about 
the  Pyramids,  I said  the}7  were  made  2800  years  ago. 
“ They  are  in  heaven  now,”  she  said.  Supposing  she 
referred  to  the  Pyramids,  I asked,  £-  What  are  pyra- 
mids  ? ” “ Houses  made  of  stone.  I mean  the  men 

who  made  them  are  in  heaven.” 

June  3.  According  to  a promise  made  last  week,  I 
took  Laura  into  the  music-room  to  let  her  examine 
the  various  instruments.  When  shown  the  orphy- 
clyde,  she  said  she  thought  the  mouth  of  it  would 
be  a good  bath-tub  for  baby  Julia.  Whenever  she 
struck  the  drums  or  triangles,  she  varied  the  time  in 
her  beats,  and  her  perception  of  this,  through  the  effect 
of  the  vibrations  upon  her  sense  of  feeling,  is  evidently 
what  gives  her  pleasure.  She  showed  much  enjoyment 
when  the  procession  was  passing,  and  talked  as  if  she 
could  hear  the  music.  She  was  talking  with  Miss 
Jeannette  about  impatience,  and  said,  “ I am  impatient 
with  you  and  with  my  teacher,  but  I am  never  impatient 
with  Doctor.”  “Why  not?”  she  asked.  “Because  I 
never  like  to  let  men  see  me  impatient.” 

June  7.  She  asked  me,  “ Why  does  it  not  rain  in 
Egypt?”  I told  her  I thought  she  could  not  under- 
stand about  that  now,  and  she  said  with  a great  deal  of 
feeling,  “lam  too  old  for  you  to  tell  me  I cannot  under 
stand.  I can  understand  hard  things  now.” 


256 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


June  10.  At  nine  she  was  full  of  a project  for  her 
doll,  and  in  a great  frolic  over  it.  Little  Frank  has  a 
doll  dressed  as  a boy,  and  Laura  named  him  Mr.  Deter  ; 
she  says  he  is  going  to  marry  her  doll.  She  told  of  the 
plan  this  morning,  and  was  in  a great  hurry  to  wash 
her  closet,  which  she  calls  “ Jcnner’s  house,”  so  as  to 
have  everything  in  order  before  Wednesday.  “It  is 
so  very  nice  to  get  all  things  ready.  Do  you  not 
think  the  doll  will  be  much  happier,  because  Dr.  Howe 
said  he  was  much  happier  to  be  married?  ” I laughed, 
but  she  did  not  like  it  She  gave  me  an  invitation  to 
be  present  at  the  wedding.  I asked  who  would  marry 
them,  and  this  gave  her  a new  idea,  as  she  did  not 
know  it  was  customary  to  have  a minister.  Finding 
she  did  not  know  all  about  it,  she  said,  “ I wish  you 
would  be  married,  and  then  I would  see  you,  and  know 
What  the  minister  said.”  I told  her  she  must  ask  Jen- 
ner  if  she  would  love  and  obey  Mr.  Deter,  if  she  wanted 
to  say  what  the  minister  did.  She  laughed  heartily  at 
this  and  said,  “ I think  she  will,  for  she  is  always  kind 
and  obedient.”  She  could  hardly  wait  for  recess  to  come 
to  commence  her  preparations,  and  all  day  has  talked 
to  every  one  she  met  about  it.  For  a long  time  she 
had  not  cared  at  all  for  her  doll,  but  now  thinks  of 
nothing  else. 

June  11.  Her  writing  is  a source  of  much  trouble, 
for  all  her  practising  on  separate  letters  seems  to  avail 
so  little  ; as  soon  as  she  begins  to  write  sentences,  she 
returns  to  the  same  bad  style.  Not  so  her  geograph}^. 
As  she  had  completed  all  the  maps,  I led  her  to  the 
globe,  put  her  hand  on  Lake  Superior,  and  asked  her  to 
find  Cairo.  She  thought  an  instant,  and  said,  “ Africa  is 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


257 


southeast  from  North  America,”  and  her  finger  was  on 
the  little  pin  denoting  it.  She  answered  every  question 
all  over  the  world  with  perfect  ease,  while  I looked  on 
with  wonder.  She  was  imagining  herself  in  my  position 
to-day,  and  said,  “ If  I was  teacher  and  you  were  a 
little  girl  and  you  got  angry,  I should  put  you  in  the 
closet,  and  I should  be  sad  and  have  you  sit  alone.” 

June  17.  Finding  my  head  bandaged  when  she 
came  for  her  lesson,  she  said,  looking  much  troubled, 
“Your  head  is  so  very  hot  I know  you  will  have  a 
fever  ” ; and  she  wanted  me  to  promise  her  that  I would 
ask  Dr.  Fisher  to  let  her  come  into  the  room  if  I was 
sick.  u I will  be  }rour  nurse  and  take  care  of  you,  and 
in  the  night  sometimes  I will  sit  up  with  you.  Are 
you  willing?”  This  plan  was  so  novel  that  she  was 
delighted  with  the  prospect.  In  the  recess,  when  she 
was  alone  by  herself,  a company  of  soldiers  passed,  and 
when  she  came  for  her  lesson  she  asked  what  it  was, 
for  she  had  felt  them.  We  talked  about  military 
uniforms,  colors,  etc. 

June  19.  We  walked  to  the  green-house  at  the 
Point.  This  is  the  first  season  she  has  ever  perceived 
the  smell  of  a rose  or  pink,  and  now  she  puts  all  flowers 
to  her  nose,  and  is  disappointed  if  they  have  no  perfume. 
The  gardener  gave  her  many  flowers,  and  among  them 
some  lemon  verbena ; she  smelled  it  and  pushed  it 
from  her,  saying,  “ It  smells  like  varnish.”  Explained 
the  word  “ guilty”  to  her  and  she  asked,  u Did  you  not 
see  many  little  boys  that  looked  guilty  when  you  went  to 
the  Correction  House  that  you  told  me  about  long  ago?  ” 

June  25.  She  completed  to-da}r  a letter  to  Mrs. 
Howe  in  reply  to  one  she  had  just  received,  describing 
17 


258 


1 AURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her  visit  to  Vesuvius.  It  is  quite  in  advance  of  an^ 
she  has  previously  written,  so  I give  it  entire. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Howe: 

I was  very  much  delighted  to  receive  a very  long 
letter  from  you.  I understood  about  lava  & crater. 
I was  much  surprised  to  hear  about  new  things.  I do 
not  know  how  to  knit  a pair  of  shoes  for  your  dear  little 
Julia.  I love  your  baby  very  much,  & am  your  pre- 
cious. (She  is  my  precious.)  I shall  make  a present  for 
you  to  remember  me  many  years.  I should  like  to  live 
with  you  and  your  husband  & dear  baby.  While  you 
Were  away  one  year  I was  in  great  misery,  & had  to 
miss  you  many  times.  I did  not  like  to  have  you  go 
away  with  Dr.  Howe.  As  soon  as  you  come  home,  I 
shall  run  to  you  & kiss  & hug  you  very  hard,  & 
shall  take  my  very  dear  baby  & kiss  it  very  softly 
& take  off  her  things.  I shall  always  set  her  a good 
example.  I want  to  see  her  very  much.  I should' like 
to  make  a very  nice  clothes  to  help  you.  I know  Vesu- 
vius very  well,  for  Miss  Swift  taught  me  about  it  a long 
time  ago.  I can  smell  roses  much  better  than  I did  two 
years  ago,  & it  gives  me  much  pleasure  in  smelling 
roses.  I like  them  very  much.  I am  very  happy  that 
you  are  coming  very  soon  to  see  me.  I shall  walk  with 
you  & talk  about  many  things.  Miss  Jenner  was 
married  to  Mr.  Deter  (two  dolls)  two  weeks  ago,  on 
Thursday  evening.  I was  a minister  to  marry  them; 
My  friends  vent  to  a wedding.  Mrs.  Deter  had  wed- 
ding cake  fo.*  them  after  she  was  married.  Mrs.  Deter 
loves  her  husband  very  much  & best,  & is  very 
happy  with  him.  Did  you  like  to  ride  on  mule’s  back 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


259 


up  the  mountains?  Were  you  afraid  of  them?  You 
will  please  to  write  a letter  to  me  some  time  if  you  can. 
Miss  J.  is  very  well  & happy.  I am  happy  that  Julia 
is  so  happy  to  see  the  bright  light.  I want  you  to  come 
back  now ; if  you  do  not  come  quick,  then  I must  send 
a long  string  to  pull  you  over  the  sea  to  South  Boston. 
I thought  of  you  & Julia  & Doctor  many  times,  that 
they  would  love  me  very  much,  because  I love  them 
& you  so  much.  I always  go  to  Boston  with  my 
teacher  for  exercise.  It  makes  my  health  more  better 
& strong.  Did  mule  have  saddle  on  his  back  ? Tell 
Doctor  that  I cannot  write  another  letter  to  him  because 
I have  much  to  write  to  you,  so  I have  not  time  to  write 
to  him,  but  he  can  see  what  your  letter  says.  Give  my 
love  to  him.  I send  a great  deal  of  love  to  y ou  & a kiss 
for  baby.  On  the  fourth  day  of  July  we  are  going  to 
have  dinner  in  the  school-room.  I am  very  sad  not  to 
have  you  come  & have  a very  nice  dinner  with  me  & 
have  some  many  pretty  flowers.  I wish  you  could  come 
very  much.  Please  to  kiss  the  baby  for  me  many  times 
a day,  every  day.  My  best  friend,  good-bye. 

June  28.  Laura  said  this  morning,  “ How  many 
countries  must  send  us  things  to  make  all  the  things  in 
this  house  ? ” She  talked  an  hour,  answering  such  ques- 
tions as,  What  do  the  Southern  States  send  us?  What 
the  Western,  South  America,  Russia,  France,  England, 
China?  etc.  She  is  very  quick  in  her  replies 

July  1.  Laura  examined  an  seolian  harp  which  I 
had  had  given  me,  and  asked  me  to  play  upon  it. 
When  told  that  the  wind  played  upon  it  she  was  impa- 
tient to  have  it  play  that  she  might  feel  it.  I put  it  in 


260 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


the  window  and  placed  her  hand  on  the  wooden  side, 
but  told  her  I thought  there  was  nothing  which  she 
could  feel.  She  sat  very  still  for  several  minutes  ; when 
a puff  of  wind  gave  the  first  note,  she  started,  and  said, 
44  It  is  like  the  organ.”  It  happened  to  be  a low  note, 
and  was  so  much  like  the  organ  that  I thought  some 
one  must  be  playing  in  the  room  below.  Next,  the 
wind  struck  a high  note,  and  she  said,  “That  is  like 
singing.”  I tried  to  feel  it,  but  told  her  I could  only 
feel  a very , very  little.  She  said,  44  Is  it  like  very  small 
animals  that  you  can  only  see  with  a spy-glass  ? ” 

July  8.  Commenced  a story  called  44  Life  in  the 
Desert.”  It  is  much  longer  than  those  I have  read  to 
her,  and  will  take  six  readings  to  complete  it.  The 
style  is  very  different  also,  but  I selected  it  on  ac- 
count of  her  great  interest  in  Africa.  When  I read 
to  her  about  the  tribe  of  Tuaricks  killing  the  Tibboos, 
she  was  horror-struck,  and  did  not  seem  to  know  what 
to  say  about  it.  It  was  the  first  time  she  had  ever 
heard  of  one  man  killing  another. 

A cotton-pod  half  opened,  showing  the  cotton  on  the 
seeds  just  ready  to  be  gathered,  led  me  to  tell  her  some- 
thing about  the  slaves  in  the  Southern  States.  She 
asked  if  they  were  Tibboo  people  that  were  brought 
from  Africa,  but  said  nothing  about  the  wrong  of  keep- 
ing them  as  slaves,  which  I thought  might  occur  to  her. 

Aug.  6.  Laura  was  puzzled  to  find  the  interest  for  a 
certain  number  of  days,  and  assured  me  the  only  reason 
she  could  not  get  it  right  was  because  there  were  Latin 
words  in  the  question,  44  per  cent.”  She  has  understood 
this  a long  time.  She  is  getting  almost  work-crazy, 
she  is  so  anxious  to  complete  a certain  number  of  purses 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


261 


each  week.  She  tells  me  each  day  how  much  she  can 
do,  and  is  displeased  if  interrupted. 

Aug.  19.  In  our  hour  for  conversation,  she  asked 
if  she  ever  told  me  about  her  friends  at  home,  and 
gave  me  an  account  of  the  time  she  lived  at  home.  It 
consisted  chiefly  of  a description  of  all  the  animals  on 
the  farm.  One  was  three  feet  high  and  covered  with 
hair,  curled  like  a sheep.  She  was  sure  it  could  not  be 
a sheep.  She  said  she  was  very  much  frightened  when 
her  mother  opened  the  cover  of  a hair  trunk  as  she 
thought  it  was  an  animal.  I asked  her  what  she  used 
to  think  about  when  she  lived  at  home.  She  said,  I 
could  not  think  or  talk  good  then.  I did  not  know  any 
of  my  friends  in  Pearl  Street,*  Boston  then.”  I asked 
her  if  she  thought  how  kind  her  mother  was.  She 
said,  “No,  I did  not  think  she  was  kind,  for  she 
whipped  me  and  shook  me.”  Explained  to  her  why  she 
had  to  do  it,  and  the  trouble  she  caused  her  mother, 
and  in  reply  she  told  me  how  she  used  to  pinch  her 
mother  when  she  wanted  anything. 

Aug.  24.  I told  her  she  might  write  a story  herself, 
*just  as  gentlemen  and  ladies  wrote  in  the  books  which 
I had  read  to  her.  She  was  delighted  and  said  she 
would  try,  but  I must  not  look  at  it  until  it  was 
finished.  At  the  close  of  the  hour  she  brought  me  the 
following,  being  her  first  attempt : — 

“There  was  a little  girl  named  Jane  Damon,  who 
lived  in  the  country  with  Mrs.  Damon.  She  was 
very  good  & amiable,  & was  never  cross  any.  Jane 
Damon  always  obeyed  her  mother.  One  day  she  went 


* At  the  time  she  came  to  the  Institution  it  was  in  Pearl  Street. 


2 62 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


with  her  mother  to  see  her  friends,  and  they  went  to  see 
beautiful  flowers  in  the  garden.  When  Mrs.  Damon 
told  Jane,  you  must  go  to  school,  she  got  ready  as  fast 
as  she  could.  She  had  the  books  & writing  in  her 
own  desk.  Her  teacher  was  very  kind  to  her  scholars. 
Her  name  was  Miss  Charlotte.  Mrs.  Damon  gave  Jane 
a beautiful  present.  Her  sister  asked  what  it  was,  & 
her  mother  said  it  was  a ring  called  diamond  stone. 
After  a few  days  her  mother  took  Jane  to  see  her  grand- 
mother, and  staid  for  one  week.  She  had  a very  pleas- 
ant visit.  Mrs.  Damon  had  a little  girl  named  Clara 
Damon,  & Jane  took  good  care  of  Clara  while  her 
mother  was  away  a little  while.  She  did  not  cry  any 
for  some  milk,  but  Jane  fed  Clara  with  a spoon ; she 
loved  her  so  very  much.” 

Aug.  26.  Speaking  of  her  health,  she  said,  “I  was 
sick  last  year,  and  my  mind  was  dizzy,  and  I was  much 
frightened  in  my  head.”  She  asked  the  meaning  of  44  in- 
sensible ” and  44  crucified.”  The  latter  I defined  as  mean- 
ing to  make  a cross . II  er  application  was  ,“J  ane  Damon 
crucifies  the  wires  of  her  basket  and  winds  the  worsted 
on  them.”  I was  obliged  to  tell  her  that  she  did  not 
quite  understand  it,  and  had  better  not  use  it.  The  next 
word  was  44  mingle,”  which  I defined  44  mix,”  but  found 
she  did  not  know  that  word  either.  When  explained, 
she  said,  44  The  drunkard  mixes  sugar  and  rum  to  drink.” 
The  next  was  44  mock.”  From  these  words  I knew  she  had 
been  reading  about  the  crucifixion,  but  had  failed  to  get 
any  idea  of  it  on  account  of  so  many  of  the  words  used 
being  unintelligible  to  her.  She  wished  to  prove  to  me 
she  did  not  forget  words,  and  said,  44  Perish  is  to  die,  you 
told  me  last  winter,  and  machine  — my  writing-board 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


263 


is  a machine  to  write  with  ; require,  is  when  I tell  you, 
you  must  mend  my  stockings  ; I require  you  to  do  them. 
I require  you  to  read  my  story  to  Jane  Damon.” 

In  geography  she  is  studying  the  zones  on  the  globe. 

Sept.  3.  Completed  the  review  of  the  last  half  of 
Colburn’s  Arithmetic,  and  now  is  to  take  up  written 
arithmetic.  She  was  very  happy  in  welcoming  Dr. 
Howe  on  his  return  from  Europe,  but  was  not  so  much 
excited  as  she  would  have  been  if  Mrs.  Howe  and  the 
baby  had  accompanied  him  from  New  York. 

Sept.  5.  Lesson  on  latitude,  calculating  it  in  miles 
as  well  as  degrees.  She  said,  “ My  mother  lives  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles  north  of  us,  that  is  two 
degrees,”  and  added,  “ Hanover  is  by  the  Connecti- 
cut River  : why  do  I not  go  in  a boat  ? ” Asked  her  to 
tell  me  how  she  could  go.  Her  first  thought  was,  that 
she  could  get  to  the  Merrimac,  and  in  some  way  across 
to  the  Connecticut.  When  told  there  was  a way  to  go 
by  water,  but  she  must  get  into  the  boat  in  Boston 
Harbor,  after  much  thinking,  she  said,  “ I must  go  by 
Cape  Cod  and  then  sail  through  Long  Island  Sound  to 
the  Connecticut  River.” 

Sept.  12.  The  baby,  which  had  just  arrived  with  its 
mother,  Mrs.  Howe,  was  her  only  thought.  She  took  no 
interest  in  her  lessons,  but  could  talk  of  nothing  but 
what  she  planned  to  do  for  little  Julia,  the  first  thing 
being  to  give  her  all  her  playthings. 


264 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Nov.  1,  1844.  A vacation  of  three  weeks  has  just 
passed,  and  Laura  has  much  to  tell  of  what  she  has  seen, 
“ so  many  new  things.”  Among  these  were  a woollen 
factory  and  a grist-mill,  and  of  both  she  gave  me  very 
good  descriptions.  I was  surprised  to  find  how  much 
she  had  understood  and  remembered.  When  she  did 
not  know  the  name  of  any  part  of  the  work,  she. made 
signs  imitating  the  people  at  work,  so  that  I could  guess 
what  it  was.  She  asked  why  the  meal  was  so  hot  after 
it  was  ground,  and  we  had  a talk  about  friction,  which  I 
illustrated,  much  to  her  satisfaction,  by  rubbing  two 
pieces  of  wood  together.  Her  greatest  exploit,  however, 
was  that  she  had  ridden  on  a donke}T,  and  this  she  told 
of  with  great  glee. 

Nov.  15.  Dr.  Howe  gave  her  a lesson  last  evening 
on  the  use  of  “ ful”  and  “ less.”  He  thought  she  un- 
derstood it  perfectly,  but  her  report  of  it  to-day  is  a 
good  illustration  of  the  difficulties  we  meet  with.  She 
said,  “ Doctor  talked  to  me  about  ful  and  less.  I am 
motherful  and  sisterful ; you  are  brotherless.  Rained  is 
a derivative  word  ; rain  is  a primitive.  Is  it  derivative 
to-day?”  Told  her  I did  not  know  what  she  meant. 
She  explained  it,  “ Is  it  rainy  to-day?” 

I taught  her  the  force  of  the  prefixes  u un  ” and  “ in 
and  the  new  words  u need  ” and  “ harm.” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


265 


Nov.  18.  She  came  this  morning  for  a lesson,  bring- 
ing a list  of  words  written  on  a paper  which  she  had 
found  in  a book  yesterday.  Explained  44  security,  crime, 
commit,  thus,  propriety,  constantly,  character.”  She 
wished  to  have  4 4 profane  ” explained  ; I told  her  pro- 
fane talking  was  when  any  one  used  bad  words.  She 
thought  a moment,  and  said,  44  Mr.  T.”  (an  old  man) 
44  talks  profane  words,  because  his  head  is  bad,  and  he 
cannot  know.”  Told  her  he  talked  silly  words,  but 
that  44  profane  ” was  not  a good  word  for  her  to  use, 
because  she  did  not  understand  it ; it  did  not  seem 
best  that  she  should  be  told  at  present  of  any  more  of 
the  sins  of  man.  Later  in  the  day  explained  44  fully, 
satisfied,  chance,  opportunity,  and  immediately,”  and 
then  talked  with  her  about  my  plan  of  going  home  to 
live  in  the  spring.  She  said,  44 1 shall  get  a string  and 
tie  your  hands  to  prevent  you  from  packing  your  trunk.” 
She  expressed  her  sorrow  that  I must  ever  go  away, 
and  said,  44 1 must  be  with  you  all  the  time  now;  I 
hope  when  you  are  in  heaven  you  will  be  very  glad  to 
see  me.  If  we  are  very  sick  we  must  be  patient,  and 
ask  God  to  invite  us.  Dr.  Howe  told  me  that  Orrin 
was  so  very  gentle  God  wanted  him  earlier,  and  Adeline 
too.” 

Nov.  20.  Spent  an  hour  in  reviewing  the 'fifty  new 
words  she  has  learned  in  a week,  and  found  she  remem- 
bered nearly  all,  and  introduced  them  into  sentences 
very  correctly.  In  defining  “sunbeam”  she  said, 
44  When  I stand  by  the  window  and  feel  the  end  of  the 
sun  it  is  a sunbeam.” 

Nov.  25.  Another  long  list  of  words,  44  pretend, 
confess,  conceal,  conduct,  diligent.”  Of  these  44  pre- 


266 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


tend  ” was  the  most  difficult.  They  occupied  an  hour, 
and  for  another  lesson,  44  appear,  confidence,  offending, 
and  encourage.” 

Dec.  2.  Laura  said,  44  4 The  Child’s  Book’  says  we 
must  turn  our  knowledge  to  some  profit:  what  does 
that  mean  ? ” There  was  so  much  in  this  idea  that  it 
took  a long  conversation  to  explain  it.  “Possess” 
was  defined  as  4 4 to  have.”  Example,  that  she  pos- 
sessed some  knowledge  now,  and  I hoped  she  would 
possess  much  more  at  the  end  of  a year.  She  said, 
44  Yes,  I hope  I shall  of  English  Reader  and  Psalms, 
and  the  Bible.” 

Dec.  9.  She  asked, 44  Do  crazy  people  talk  profanely 
when  they  dream,  but  not  think?  ” Three  weeks  since 
I had  told  her  she  would  never  have  to  use  this  word, 
but  she  is  determined  to  find  what  it  means  if  possible, 
and  so  whenever  she  meets  with  a word  she  thinks  is 
not  good,  she  asks  if  it  is  profane.  New  words  to-day 
were  44  suspicious,  suspect,  anticipate,  hateful.”  She 
counted  the  months  that  I should  teach  her,  and 
talked  of  her  new  teacher.  4 4 1 hope  you  will  teach  her 
how  to  talk  with  her  fingers,  and  what  things  to  teach 
me,  and  I hope  Doctor  will  tell  her  what  she  must  teach 
me.  She  must  not  talk  about  heaven  to  me,  because 
he  saj^s  I must  wait  for  him  to  tell  me  about  that.” 

In  the  geography  lesson  we  had  a long  talk  on  the 
subject  of  the  Chinese  ports  being  shut  to  foreigners. 
She  could  not  see  why  the  Chinese  should  be  suspicious 
of  Americans,  though  she  thought  they  might  be  of  the 
Tartars  or  Siberians,  but  not  of  us.  She  was  much 
surprised  to  hear  of  the  size  of  their  cities,  and  asked, 
tK  How  very  long  will  it  take  to  count  them?  ” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


267 


Dec.  12.  Laura  is  enjoying  imaginary  shopping,  with 
a purse  full  of  silver  to  pay  for  it,  as  an  exercise  in 
arithmetic.  She  says,  44  It  is  much  nicer  than  the  book 
was.” 

She  asked,  “What  do  bescond  and  Matthew  chap, 
mean  ? ” Taught  her  ‘ 4 abscond,”  and  about  4 4 chapters  ” 
and  44  verses,”  also  44  possibly,  prophets,  text,  occasion, 
stumbling.”  She  said,  “The  drunkard’s  brains  are 
dizzy  so  that  he  stumbles.”  This  subject,  though 
repulsive  to  her,  seems  to  fascinate  her  so  she  is  con- 
stantly drawing  her  examples  from  it. 

Dec.  19.  As  she  is  very  prompt  in  settling  her  bills 
in  dollars  and  cents,  I had  her  try  to  reckon  in  shil- 
lings and  pence.  She  is  familiar  with  fractions,  and  so 
will  probably  find  little  difficulty.  She  read  the  word 
“ abound”  in  her  lesson,  and  I asked  if  she  knew  it. 
44  Yes,  my  head  abounded  when  it  struck  the  wall  in  my 
mother’s  house.” 

We  had  a long  discussion  on  the  word  44  always,” 
which  she  was  so  sure  she  understood  correctly  that 
she  was  at  first  unwilling  to  accept  my  criticism  on  her 
use  of  it.  She  insisted  that  she  was  “always  in  the 
parlor”  and  44  always  in  her  closet,”  meaning  at  some 
time  every  day  she  was  there.  Probably  when  I first 
gave  her  the  word  I defined  it  every  day. 

Jan.  21,  1845.  Lafira  knit  a very  pretty  purse  and 
sent  to  the  Mechanics’  Fair.  The  committee  awarded 
her  a diploma  and  medal.  I read  it  through  to  her  and 
she  seemed  frightened  at  the  number  of  unknown 
words,  but  was  much  pleased  when  she  had  learned 
them  all. 

Jan.  22.  Dr.  Howe  had  been  giving  Laura  some 


268 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


lessons  in  grammar  on  nouns  and  adjectives,  and  I took 
up  the  subject  for  regular  lessons  to-day.  She  had 
already  learned  nouns  and  adjectives  so  she  rarely  made 
a mistake  on  them.  I took  up  pronouns,  and  told  her 
“you”  and  “me”  were  pronouns,  and  I wanted  she 
should  think  of  other  words  we  used  to  mean  herself  and 
m}Tself,  and  she  gave  me  very  quickly  all  the  cases  of 
the  pronouns  “I”  and  4 4 you.”  I then  gave  her  an  exam- 
ple in  which  it  occurred,  and  she  named  it  as  a pronoun. 
In  the  sentence,  “ The  plants  look  very  pretty,  and 
they  must  have  much  water  to  make  them  grow,”  she 
told  correct^  the  part  of  speech  of  all  the  words  but 
three,  — the,  ve^,  and  to.  Gave  her  the  sentence,  “ The 
sun  is  not  shining,”  to  teach  her  articles  and  participles. 
In  the  sentence,  “It  is  not  good  weather,”  she  said, 
“I  do  not  know  it , I think  it  does  not  stand  for  a 
noun.”  Another  sentence  was,  “I  hope  you  will  be 
able  to  go  to  the  city  to-day.”  She  gave  all  the  words 
correctly  until  she  came  to  to-day,  and  first  called  it  an 
adjective  and  then  a noun,  but  was  not  satisfied  with 
either. 

Feb.  3.  She  finds  quickly  every  place  that  is  put 
down  on  the  raised  map  of  Europe,  cities,  towns,  rivers, 
mountains,  etc.  In  grammar  she  learned  the  kinds  of 
nouns  and  gender,  having  learned  number  in  a previous 
lesson. 

Feb.  10.  In  parsing  a sentence  she  gives  the  kind  of 
noun,  its  person,  number,  and  gender,  also  of  pronouns. 
The  new  words  to-day  were  “ elegant,  apparel,  exhibit, 
plan,  conveyance,  cheerful,  elevating,  avoid,  frivolous, 
gloomy,  desirable,  style.”  After  I had  explained  the 
last  two  she  said,  “ It  is  desirable  for  us  to  live  in  style  ” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


269 


I asked  her  what  style  she  thought  most  desirable.  Her 
answer  was  that 1 ‘ It  makes  us  happier  than  to  be  killed 
showing  she  appreciated  the  first  words  of  the  sentence, 
but  did  not  connect  the  last  two  understandingly. 

Feb.  13.  After  a recess  she  came  to  me  with  her 
apron  unfastened,  and  said,  turning  to  me  to  hook  it, 
“ Do  something  to  deserve  to  be  thanked.”  I had  lately 
taught  her  the  word  “ deserve.”  Gave  her  a review  lesson 
upon  nouns  She  was  very  quick  in  her  answers,  and 
wished  me  to  be  faster  in  telling  her  new  things, 
1 4 Because  if  you  do  not,  you  will  not  have  time  to  teach 
me  all  about  grammar  before  you  go  away,  and  a new 
teacher  will  not  know  how  to  teach  grammar.” 

Feb.  18.  Gave  Laura  a ciphering-board,  and  had  her 
commence  with  numeration.  It  is  two  years  since  she 
has  done  anything  with  the  board,  and  she  has  forgotten 
a good  deal.  She  was  troubled  on  account  of  a new 
arrangement,  by  which  part  of  my  time  is  to  be  devoted 
to  teaching  Oliver.  It  is  not  strange  that  she  should 
dislike  it,  she  has  so  long  had  undivided  attention,  and 
she  finds  her  plans  for  accomplishing  a certain  amount  in 
her  studies  will  be  interfered  with.  This  was  made 
necessary  by  the  resignation  of  Miss  Rogers,  who  has 
been  his  teacher. 

March  5.  Oliver  wished  to  remain  with  me  while  I 
gave  Laura  a lesson.  As  soon  as  she  perceived  he  was 
in  the  room,  she  wanted  to  talk  with  him.  She  has 
adopted  lately  a peculiar  style  of  conversation.  She 
tells  him  a number  of  stories,  all  imaginary,  but  upon 
subjects  that  she  knows  interest  him,  and  when  he  ap- 
pears to  be  sufficiently  troubled,  she  tells  him,  “ I am 
in  fun,  I say  it  for  fun.”  Although  she  has  done  it 


270 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


repeatedly  he  is  deceived  each  time,  but  takes  it  in  good 
part,  and  is  still  willing  to  talk  with  her. 

March  12.  One  of  our  visitors  was  going  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  soon,  and  Laura  sustained  her  part 
in  a conversation  with  him  very  creditably,  asking  the 
length  of  voyage,  about  the  climate,  productions,  etc. 

March  24.  The  new  words  for  to-day  were  “ ingrat- 
itude, feeble,  control,  controllable,  accomplish,  instruct, 
instructor,  instructress.  ” The  effect  of  learnings  many 
new  words  is  quite  noticeable  in  her  language.  She  is 
very  ambitious  to  use  as  many  of  them  as  possible,  and 
throws  aside  those  which  we  are  in  the  habit  of  using 
in  ordinary  conversation  to  substitute  others  which  she 
finds  in  books.  The  consequence  is  that  her  language 
to-day  is  more  faulty  than  it  was  six  months  ago,  and  is 
best  described  as  language  on  stilts.  Greater  familiarity 
with  books  and  careful  attention  to  her  conversation 
will  do  much  to  correct  it,  but  I fear  it  will  always  have 
many  peculiarities. 

Dr.  Howe  remarks  on  this  subject  in  his  Thir- 
teenth Report : — 

44In  truth,  people  seldom  stop  to  reflect  upon  the 
nature  of  arbitrary  language,  upon  its  essential  impor- 
tance to  the  development  of  the  intellect,  or  upon  the 
wonderful  process  by  which  we  gradually  advance 
from  the  power  of  naming  single  objects  to  that  of  con- 
densing many  of  them  into  one  complex  term,  — from 
the  alpha  of  language,  mamma,  up  to  its  omega,  uni- 
verse ! 

“ How  much  is  asserted  in  the  simplest  sentence,  as 
this,  for  instance:  4 We  might  have  been  more  truly 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


271 


happy  had  our  widowed  father  remained  contentedly 
with  us.’  Here  is  the  assertion  of  the  plurality  of 
persons ; of  their  condition  in  past  time ; of  the  fact 
of  their  having  been  moderately  happy  in  the  society  of 
their  father ; there  is  the  negation  of  their  entire  happi- 
ness ; the  implied  doubt  whether  after  all  they  would 
have  been  happier  ; their  relation  as  children  ; their  regret 
at  their  father’s  departure.  Of  the  other  person  it  is 
directly  affirmed  that  he  had  been  with  his  children  ; it 
is  implied  that  he  had  been  married  ; that  he  had  lost  his 
wife,  not  by  separation,  but  by  death ; that  he  was  not 
contented  to  remain  with  his  children  ; that  he  had  gone 
away  from  them ; that  he  might  have  remained  with 
them,  etc.,  etc. 

14  When  we  reflect  upon  that  principle  of  the  mind 
which  requires  that  all  possible  objects,  qualities,  and 
conditions  must  be  linked  so  closely  with  signs  that  the 
perception  of  the  signs  shall  recall  them  necessarily  and 
instantly  ; and  when  we  consider  how  much  is  attained 
b}r  young  persons,  who  a few  years  ago  could  hardly 
master  baby’s  prattle,  but  who  now  have  all  the  vast 
sweep  of  thought,  the  great  amount  of  knowledge,  the 
degree  of  reflection,  of  separation,  and  of  generalization 
necessary  to  comprehend  such  a phrase  as, 

‘ Count  all  the  advantage  prosperous  vice  attains, 

*T  is  but  what  virtue  flies  from,  and  disdains,’ 

we  may  say  with  the  ancient,  i There  is  but  one  object 
greater  than  the  human  soul,  and  that  one  is  its 
Creator.’ 

“ The  space  between  the  starting-point  of  the  infant 
and  that  obtained  by  the  mature  man  is  immense  ; but 


272 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


our  minds,  aided  by  language  which  gives  to  them  wings, 
skim  swiftly  and  delightedly  over  the  wfcole,  as  the  wild 
fowl  flies  from  zone  to  zone  ; while  Laura  is  like  one  of 
those  birds  shorn  of  its  wings,  and  doomed  to  attempt 
the  vast  distance  on  its  weary  feet.  If  persons  will 
only  make  these  reflections  they  will  be  inclined  rather 
to  wonder  that  she  has  gone  so  far  than  to  feel  surprised 
at  her  not  having  gone  farther.” 

March  30.  She  repeated  to  me  this  morning  the  story 
of  the  birth  of  Christ,  and  of  his  being  carried  away 
because  of  a bad  governor,  which  Dr.  Howe  had  told 
her  yesterday. 

April  22.  In  arithmetic  she  has  advanced  to  reduc- 
tion. One  question  was  about  duties  in  a custom-house, 
a subject  which  was  all  new  to  her,  and  we  spent  an 
hour  in  the  explanation  of  freight,  imports,  exports,  etc. 

When  shown  a calla  lily,  she  compared  it  to  a horse’s 
ear,  and  said  the  stamens  had  a very  fine  nap  on  them. 
Counting  the  days  before  I was  to  leave  her,  she  said, 
44  Your  time  runs  so  very  fast,  like  a balloon.” 

April  30.  Completed  Abbott’s  story  of  44  Marco 
Paul  in  Boston,”  which  we  have  been  reading  at  inter- 
vals for  several  months,  much  to  her  enjoyment,  also 
finished  the  seventh  section  of  Colburn’s  Sequel. 

Dr.  Howe  gives  in  his  Thirteenth  Annual  Report 
some  extracts  from  his  own  journal,  showing  his 
method  of  conversing  with  her  on  religious  sub- 
jects. 

44  In  talking  with  Laura  to-day  on  the  subject  of  the 
Deity,  I said,  4 How  do  men  make  bread  ? ’ 4 From 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


273 


wheat/  ‘How  do  they  make  wheat?’  ‘They  can- 
not make  wheat,’  said  she.  ‘ Then  how  do  they  get 
it?’  said  I.  ‘God  makes  it  grow.’  ‘Why?’  ‘For 
man  to  eat/  said  she.  I then  explained  to  her  that 
some  birds  and  animals  eat  grain,  and  asked,  ‘ Why 
does  God  give  it  to  them?’  She  said,  ‘To  make 
them  happy.’  ‘ But  does  he  love  them?’  said  I.  ‘ No,’ 
said  she,  ‘ they  have  no  souls.’ 

“ I then  told  her  there  are  some  beautiful  islands  on  the 
globe,  where  the  sun  shines  clearly  and  warmly ; where 
there  are  rich  meadows  and  sweet  flowers  and  tall 
trees  and  shady  groves  ; where  the  brooks  run  merrily 
down  the  hills,  and  where  there  is  plenty  of  delicious 
fruit  and  nutritive  plants  ; that  these  islands  are  never 
visited  by  man,  yet  nevertheless  that  thousands  of  birds 
are  singing  in  the  branches,  and  rejoicing  over  their 
little  ones  ; that  the  young  animals  are  frolicking  on  the 
soft  grass,  and  the  old  ones  looking  on  them  with 
silent  joy ; that  the  fishes  are  swimming  briskly  about 
in  the  clear  streams,  and  leaping  out  sportively  into  the 
air,  and  that  all  this  has  been  going  on  thousands  of 
years. 

‘ ‘ After  thus  trying  to  give  her  as  vivid  a picture  as  I 
could  of  the  happy  inhabitants  of  these  peaceful  isles, 
I asked  her  who  made  such  beautiful  places.  She 
said,  ‘ God  ’ ‘ But  for  what  did  he  make  them?  ’ ‘ To 

make  the  animals  all  happy,’  said  she,  and  added  of 
her  own  accord,  ‘ God  is  very  good  to  make  them  hap- 
py.’ She  then  meditated  a little,  and  said,  ‘ Can  they 
thank  him?’  ‘Not  in  words/  said  I.  I then  went 
on  to  show  her  that  he  had  no  need  of  thanks  in  words  ; 
that  he  did  not  do  these  good  things  in  order  to  be 
18 


274 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thanked,  when  she  stopped  me  by  asking,  ‘ Why  he  did 
not  give  them  souls  ? ’ I tried  to  explain  how  much  of 
reason  and  sense  they  really  possess,  and  how  grateful 
all  of  God’s  children  should  be  for  what  they  have  with- 
out asking  why  it  was  not  more,  when  she  said  suddenly, 
‘Why  is  God  never  unkind  or  wrong?’  I tried,  as 
well  as  I could,  to  explain  the  perfection  of  God’s  char- 
acter, and  its  freedom  from  human  frailties ; but  alas^ 
how  vain  is  the  effort,  when  neither  teacher  nor  pupil  hav? 
any  other  standard  than  human  littleness  by  which  te 
measure  God’s  greatness. 

“ There  is  this  constant  difficulty  with  her  (and  is  h 
not  one  too  much  overlooked  in  the  religious  instruction 
of  other  children  ?) , that  being  unable  to  form  any  idea 
of  virtue  and  goodness  in  the  abstract,  she  must  seek  it 
in  the  concrete  ; and  her  teachers  and  friends,  frail  and 
imperfect  beings  like  herself,  furnish  the  poor  imperson- 
ations of  the  peerless  attributes  of  God. 

“ This  difficulty  might  have  been  avoided,  I think,  bj 
the  plan  which  I had  marked  out  for  the  orderly  devel 
opment  of  her  intellectual  faculties  and  moral  senti- 
ments, and  which  was  simply  to  follow  the  natural1 
order ; but  since  that  plan  has  been  marred  by  the  well- 
meant  officiousness  of  others,  there  remains  only  t<r 
remedy,  as  far  as  we  can,  what  we  cannot  cure  entirely 
— the  bad  effects  of  ill-timed  direction  of  her  thought? 
to  subjects  too  far  above  her  comprehension. 

“ After  the  conversation  related  above,  I went  on  to 
illustrate,  as  well  as  I could,  the  difference  between 
luman  and  divine  care  of  animals.  I said,  ‘ Why  does 
man  take  care  of  a cow,  and  get  hay  into  his  barn 
to  feed  her  in  wirter?’  ‘Oh!’  said  she,  ‘ to  get  her 


LAURA  A RID GM AN. 


275 


milk/  4 Why  does  he  take  care  of  his  horse,  and 
keep  him  covered  with  a warm  blanket,  and  feed  him  ? * 
4 That  is  to  ride  him  well/  said  she.  4 Why  do  peo- 
ple keep  cats,  and  feed  them?’  4 To  catch  mice/ 
4 Why  do  farmers  take  such  good  care  of  sheep  ? ’ 
4 To  get  wool/  4 But  when  the  cow  and  the  sheep  are 
old,  and  cannot  work,  what  does  man  do?’  4 He  kills 
to  get  meat/  4 Wrell,’  said  I,  4 why  does  God  make 
the  grass  to  grow  in  the  meadow,  and  let  the  cow  eat 
it?  Does  he  want  her  milk?’  4 No,’  said  she.  4 Does 
he  need  the  wool  of  the  sheep?’  4 No!’  replied 
she  vehemently,  k he  does  not  want  anything.’  Pres- 
ently she  said,  4 How  do  men  know  whether  cows 
are  willing  to  give  them  their  milk?’  I said,  4 They 
do  not  know  and  do  not  care.’  She  mused  awhile,  as 
is  her  wont  when  talking  on  a new  subject,  and  said, 
4 The  little  lambs  and  young  animals  play  : why  do  not 
sheep  love  to  have  their  pleasure  ? ’ I explained  how 
they  had  pleasure  in  giving  milk  to  their  young,  how 
they  loved  to  eat  the  tender  grass,  and  lie  in  the  shade. 
She  seemed  to  have  another  difficulty,  and  said,  4 Why 
do  cats  want  to  kill  mice  ? They  have  no  love  ! ’ ” 

In  closing  the  account  of  my  stewardship,  per- 
haps it  will  not  be  considered  out  of  place  for 
me  to  an?  wer  the  question  which  has  often  been 
asked,  and  to  which  an  answer  ought  to  be  given. 
It  has  been  asked  with  great  earnestness  whether 
I think  that  Laura  could  have  been  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  at  the 
time  of  my  instructing  her.  I do  suppose  that 


276 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


she  could  have  understood  them,  and  my  opin- 
ion is  founded  on  the  following  reasons. 

As  soon  as  these  doctrines  were  mentioned  to 
her,  she  received  them  very  readily.  It  was  far 
more  difficult  to  teach  her  many  common  things 
of  life  than  to  teach  these  truths,  which  indeed 
she  learned  so  easily  that  we  could  not  determine 
when  and  how  she  obtained  her  knowledge  of 
them.  Her  soul  seemed  to  be  prepared  for  them, 
receptive  of  them.  Very  many  of  the  questions, 
for  answers  to  which  I referred  her  to  Dr.  Howe, 
could  have  been  answered  without  difficulty  at 
the  moment  of  her  asking  them.  We  could  not 
divine  where  she  acquired  much  of  the  knowl- 
edge she  had ; hints  from  the  blind  girls  seemed 
to  suffice  as  a clew,  and  then  she  worked  out  the 
rest  herself.  She  asked  Dr.  Howe,  " What  is  a 
soul  ? ” and  received  the  idea  at  once.  Could 
she  not  then  have  received  the  Biblical  doctrines  ? 
A girl  capable  of  asking  such  questions  is  capa- 
ble of  receiving  the  replies.  It  may  be  she 
could  not  receive  them  all  clearly ; neither  did  she 
receive  all  clearly  in  her  other  studies,  but  we  did 
not  delay  the  teaching  on  this  account. 

That  the  influence  of  my  enforced  reticence  on 
such  subjects  was  disastrous,  may  readily  be  per- 
ceived. While  she  entirely  understood  that  it 
was  the  wish  of  Dr.  Howe,  and  therefore  refrained 
from  asking  me  questions  save  when  her  soul  was 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


277 


so  full  it  must  find  utterance,  yet  there  was,  es- 
pecially in  the  last  year  of  my  intercourse  with 
her,  an  impatience  in  waiting  that  extended  to 
other  things.  Her  mind  was  so  full  of  these  sub- 
jects  that  the  most  interesting  lesson  could  not 
exclude  them,  and  as  has  been  seen  in  the  pre- 
vious pages,  when  I supposed  she  was  absorbed  in 
our  conversation  on  other  topics,  she  surprised  me 
with  questions  on  religious  topics,  for  replies  to 
which  she  must  wait. 

In  another  direction  the  bad  effects  were  ap- 
parent. I was  unable  to  appeal  to  the  highest 
motives.  She  was  living  under  the  old  dispensa- 
tion, and  had  not  even  the  example  of  Christ  as  a 
model ; for  until  my  last  month  with  her,  she  did 
not  even  know  his  name. 

Could  Dr.  Howe  have  anticipated  her  mental 
development  during  his  absence,  he  would  doubt- 
less have  left  her  under  the  charge  of  some  per- 
son who  sympathized  with  his  views  and  who 
could  have  satisfied  her  questionings ; but  it  was 
my  privilege  only  to  give  the  intellectual  training 
which  should  prepare  the  way  for  my  more 
favored  successor. 

I make  these  statements  with  no  design  to  cen- 
sure Dr.  Howe,  but  merely  to  answer  questions 
regarding  the  difference  of  my  opinions  from  those 
entertained  by  that  eminent  philanthropist. 


278 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Laura  was  without  any  regular  instruction  from 
the  1st  of  May  until  the  last  of  August,  1845. 
At  this  time  Miss  Sarah  Wight,  who  had  taught 
several  years  in  the  girls’  department  of  the  Insti- 
tution, took  charge  of  her.  For  the  report  of  the 
next  few  years  we  are  indebted  to  her  journal, 
which  bears  ample  testimony  to  the  faithfulness 
with  which  she  discharged  her  onerous  duties. 

New  arrangements  were  made  by  which  Laura 
was  kept  constantly  with  her  teacher,  Dr.  Howe 
having  selected  two  or  three  of  the  blind  girls,  who 
were  allowed  to  call  upon  her  in  her  private  room 
occasionally,  for  a play  or  chat. 

By  this  means  she  was  prevented  from  receiv- 
ing any  new  ideas,  except  through  the  medium 
which  he  approved. 

Miss  Wight  found  that  in  the  four  months  Laura 
had  forgotten  much  with  which  she  had  been  quite 
familiar,  both  in  geography  and  arithmetic,  which 
was  not  a matter  of  surprise. 

From  this  time  no  records  of  the  details  of  her 
lessons  were  kept,  but  we  can  judge  of  her  intel- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


279 


lectual  improvement  from  the  evidence  of  it  which 
we  find  in  the  reports  of  conversation,  and  in  the 
extracts  from  her  own  journal.  Miss  Wight’s 
journal  reports  mainly  her  Bible  study  and  the 
development  of  her  moral  and  religious  charac- 
ter. 

We  make  the  following  extracts  : — 

44  One  day,  I remarked  to  her  that  the  first  settlers 
of  this  country  sometimes  had  difficulty  in  procuring 
enough  to  eat ; whereupon  she  asked  suddenly,  4 What 
repast  did  one  man  eat?’  She  explained  herself  by 
adding,  4 When  there  was  hut  one  man  on  the  earth.’ 
The  answer  was  that  there  was  fruit  and  berries. 
4 But,’  said  she,  4 when  he  was  very  small?’  She 
paused  awhile,  and  then  added,  4 1 guess  God  took 
care  of  him,  and  gave  him  some  milk.’ 

44 1 was  reading  something  in  which  a compass  was 
mentioned ; upon  which,  she  was  desirous  of  knowing 
all  about  it.  I showed  her  a magnet,  and  applied  it  to 
a toy  in  the  shape  of  a swan  floating  upon  the  water. 
When  she  felt  that  the  bird  was  attracted  by  the  mag- 
net, her  face  grew  very  red,  and  she  said,  much  sur- 
prised, 4 It  makes  it  live ; it  is  alive,  for  it  moves.’ 
I then  asked  her  if  the  bird  ate  or  slept  or  walked  or 
could  feel.  4 No,’  she  replied,  hut  still  seemed  hardly 
convinced  that  the  magnet  did  not  give  life  to  the  bird, 
until  she  was  shown  its  effect  upon  a needle. 

‘‘This  led  to  an  explanation  of  attraction;  and  she 
soon  afterwards  showed  her  disposition  to  apply  all  new 
words  in  as  many  senses  as  she  can,  by  suddenly 
embracing  me  and  saying,  4 1 am  exceedingly  attracted 
to  you,  because  you  are  always  so  kind.’ 


280 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


44  In  one  of  onr  walks,  after  a long  pause  in  the  con- 
versation, she  asked  me,  while  blushing  and  laughing, 
4 Do  you  think  I shall  ever  be  married  with  a gentle- 
man whom  I love  best  and  most?’  I said,  4 No.’ 
When  she  had  thought  of  all  the  objections,  she  said, 
4 Mrs.  Davis  is  married  and  she  is  blind.  I can  sweep 
and  fix  things  very  nicely  and  do  many  things/ 

44  Oct.  24.  At  eight  o’clock  to-day  Laura  came  to 
me  and  said,  4 Doctor  wants  you  to  teach  me  about 
motives.  What  are  motives?’ 

44  After  giving  the  meaning  of  the  word,  I referred  her 
to  a story  that  I read  to  her  last  evening.  It  was  of 
a benevolent,  kind-hearted  little  boy,  who  expended 
his  money  in  purchasing  little  comforts  for  those  who 
needed  them,  making  it  his  happiness  to  do  good  to  the 
poor  and  unfortunate.  She  was  very  much  interested 
in  talking  of  the  character  of  the  boy,  and  of  his  sister 
and  mother.  It  was  a good  motive  for  George  to  give 
nice  things  to  poor  people.  Doctor  had  a good  motive 
to  give  us  this  nice  large  room  to  be  so  warm  and  com- 
fortable. He  is  very  benevolent.  But  Jesus  Christ 
was  the  most  benevolent ; we  cannot  be  benevolent  as 
he  was.  I cannot  be  benevolent  and  do  kind  things  to 
crazy  people,  and  blind  and  deaf  people,  and  cure  them. 
God  is  very  benevolent,  he  does  so  many  things  to  make 
people  happy.  I then  tried  to  show  her  how  she  might 
be  truly  benevolent  in  little  things,  every  day.  4 1 
give  away  many  things,’  said  she.  I convinced  her 
that  it  was  not  alway  a proof  of  benecolence  to  give 
things  away.  During  the  whole  lesson  she  was  very 
serious  and  thoughtful,  pressing  my  fingers  closety,  so 
that  no  letter  should  escape  her. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


281 


“ Oct.  25.  Laura  seemed  to  me  rude  and  boisterous, 
and  not  easily  restrained  as  usiial.  It  was  very  dis- 
couraging to  me,  and  I gave  myself  up  to  sad  thoughts. 
Laura  soon  perceived  it,  and  asked  why.  I told  her 
she  did  not  try,  so  much  as  I wished,  to  grow  still  and 
gentle,  though  we  had  talked  so  much  about  it.  She 
sat  still  some  time,  and  then  said,  4 I love  Mrs.  Smith 
best,  she  is  so  gentle.’  This  was  evidently  said  to 
trouble  me,  and  did  not  relieve  me  any.  This  is  one  of 
the  very  few  instances  where  there  seemed  to  be  unkind- 
ness in  the  child’s  heart.  But  she  soon  repented.  After 
dinner  she  was  up  stairs,  and  was  gone  for  some  time  ; 
when  at  last  she  came  down  and  found  me,  she  said  she 
had  a nice  present  for  me  to  make  me  more  happy,  and 
that  she  would  try  more  to  improve.  She  said  this 
very  sadly.  I took  her  present  and  exerted  myself  to 
appear  as  cheerful  as  usual.  The  present  she  brought 
was  a pincushion,  one  of  her  choicest  treasures. 

44  Lessons  as  usual.  Talking  with  Laura  about  being 
kind  and  benevolent.  She  began  to  give  me  a long 
account  of  little  kind  things  that  she  had  done.  After 
a time  I told  her  that  sometimes  people  did  kind  things 
that  their  friends  might  praise  them  and  think  they 
were  very  kind  and  benevolent.  We  talked  of  it  some 
time,  Laura’s  face  growing  more  and  more  red,  yet 
half  smiling.  I could  see  she  was  applying  the  remark 
to  herself,  as  indeed  she  does  everything  that  she  hears 
of  this  kind.  4 Why  do  I like  to  be  praised  ? ’ she  soon 
asked.  I told  her  that  every  one  did,  and  that  it  was 
right  for  us  to  like  to  have  our  friends  love  us,  and 
praise  us  too,  if  we  were  good.  Supposed  the  case  of 
two  little  children,  one  of  whom  was  very  kind  to  his 


282 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


sisters  that  his  mother  might  call  him  good,  and  the 
other  did  the  same  because  he  was  glad  to  see  all  happy, 
etc.  Asked  her  which  she  thought  was  the  best  child. 
She  hesitated  a moment,  and  replied,  4 The  boy  who 
wanted  to  see  other  children  happy  / 

“ Nov  4.  Laura  asked  me,  4 Why  do  I have  two 
thoughts  ? Why  do-  I not  do  what  my  conscience  tells 
me  is  right  ? ’ Told  her  I thought  when  she  began  to  do 
wrong  she  was  in  play,  and  afterwards  her  firmness  led 
her  to  continue  to  do  wrong,  though  her  conscience  was 
telling  her  all  the  time  she  was  wrong. 

44  Nov.  10.  Laura  went  to  church  with  me  in  the 
morning.  In  the  afternoon,  1 left  Jane  with  her,  with 
permission  to  stay  a short  time.  When  I returned, 
Laura  did  not  welcome  me  as  usual,  and  made  some 
objection  to  a walk  which  I proposed  ; but  she  was  soon 
ready  for  it.  I learned  from  Jane  that  Laura  had 
done  something  that  she  (Jane)  had  promised  not  to 
tell  me.  I asked  Laura  why  she  was  not  willing  that 
I should  know  everything  that  she  did  while  I was 
awa}r.  She  said,  4 I was  afraid  you  would  reprove  me/ 
I asked  her  if  I ever  spoke  unkindly  to  her  when  she 
had  done  wrong.  4 No/  replied  she,  very  emphati- 
cally, 4 you  never  blame  me.  Why  did  I pull  the 
wire  ? ’ I answered  that  I thought  curiosity  and  play- 
fulness made  her  do  it ; that  it  was  not  wrong  to  be 
curious  and  playful,  but  that  it  was  wrong  to  try  to 
conceal  from  me  when  she  thought  she  had  done  mis- 
chief. 4 1 did  not  know  it  was  to  conceal/  said  she. 
I told  her  that  it  was  best  for  me  to  know  what  she  did 
and  thought,  that  I might  be  able  to  advise  her.  4 1 
knew  it  was  wrong  to  pull  the  wire.’  Jane  had  told  me 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


283 


also  that  Laura  was  unwilling  that  she  should  leave  her, 
and  made  several  very  unpleasant  noises.  I alluded  to 
this  when  talking  to  Laura,  and  she  said,  4 1 was  not 
impatient.’  4 But,’  said  I,  4 Jane  said  you  made  some 
bad  noises.’  4 1 did  n — ,’  she  began  to  say  hesitatingly, 
when  I said,  4 Did  you  not  make  noises  ? ’ and  she  replied, 
4 1 believe  I did  not  refrain  from  making  bad  noises.’ 
I was  now  obliged  to  leave  her  for  a short  time.  When 
I came  back,  she  was  not  inclined  to  say  much,  and 
seemed  trying  to  force  a smile.  By  this  time,  the  head- 
ache which  had  followed  me  all  day  became  quite 
severe,  and  I left  her  again  for  a while  to  her  reflec- 
tions. It  is  the  first  time  that  she  has  attempted  to 
deceive  me.  She  was  afraid,  perhaps,  that  she  had 
done  some  injury  to  something.  She  could  have  no  fear 
that  I should  speak  severely  to  her,  for  I never  blame 
her  in  the  least.  Generally,  when  she  is  doing  or  saying 
any  little  thing  that  I disapprove,  I simply  stop  it  at 
the  time,  and  afterwards  speak  of  the  thing  abstractly. 
She  will  apply  my  remarks  to  herself  and  to  the  cir- 
cumstance, but  without  any  unpleasant  excitement  of 
feeling,  and  she  remembers  them  a long  time. 

44  Many  times  she  has  said,  4 I cannot  be  perfectly 
good,  as  Jesus  Christ  was.’  I have  told  her  that  every 
one  should  try  to  be  perfectly  good,  and  never  be  will- 
ing to  do  wrong  even  in  a little  thing ; explained  to 
her  that  perhaps  it  was  a desire  to  appear  perfectly  good 
which  prompted  her  to  conceal  that  which  she  was 
afraid  was  wrong. 

44  When  I spoke  to  her  again,  she  said,  4 1 was  pray- 
ing to  God,  and  told  him  that  I had  been  so  wrong,  and 
I asked  him  to  forgive  me  and  send  me  better  thoughts, 


284 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


I told  him  my  motives  were  bad  to  conceal  from  you^ 
and  to  tell  you  that  I did  not  make  impatient  noises.’ 
She  then  put  her  hand  on  my  hot  head  and  asked, 
4 What  made  it  worse?’  I answered,  4 Sad  thoughts.’ 
She  said,  4 1 am  sorry  you  were  detained  from  being 
happy  by  a sad  circumstance.  I have  told  God  that 
I will  not  do  so  wrong  again.’ 

44  Dec.  13.  A good  lesson  in  arithmetic,  but  Laura 
was  not  in  her  usual  spirits.  I said  nothing,  hoping  it 
would  wear  off.  After  breakfast  I told  her  that  she 
said  last  night  that  she  felt  unkindly  towards  me  and 
asked  if  she  knew  the  cause  of  it,  and  if  I said  anything 
that  troubled  her.  4 No,  I think  it  was  because  I did 
not  refrain  from  bad  thoughts.’  4 Do  you  know  what 
made  your  thoughts  bad?  Was  it  because  I showed 
you  how  you  shook  my  arm?’  4 No,  I think  my  con- 
science was  bad.’  4 Our  consciences  are  never  bad, 
they  will  never  tell  us  to  do  what  we  know  is  wrong : 
did  you  not  know  it  was  wrong?’  4 Yes,  but  I did  not 
obey  my  conscience,  and  that  was  the  reason  that  I 
slapped  you.’  A few  moments  after  she  said,  4 1 am 
too  old  to  be  reproved.’  4 But  you  are  not  too  old  to 
do  wrong.’  4 My  mind  can  reprove  me,’  was  her  reply. 
I said,  4 You  do  not  wish  to  injure  your  teacher : why 
do  you  not  tell  her  that  }rou  are  sorry  that  you  struck 
her  ? ’ She  smiled  and  made  no  reply.  I left  her  for 
half  an  hour  to  her  own  thoughts,  and  on  speaking  to 
her  again,  asked  of  what  she  had  been  thinking. 
‘Prajing  to  God,  for  he  can  help  me  best.  I asked 
him  to  send  me  good  thoughts.’  She  did  not  say  this 
with  her  usual  seriousness,  but  as  if  repeating  words 
merely,  and  added,  4 People  told  me  always  to  ask  God 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


285 


to  help  me.’  I said,  4 You  struck  your  teacher  who  is 
always  kind  to  you:  are  you  not  sorry?’  No  reply. 
4 Do  you  think  your  thoughts  are  all  good  and  your 
feelings  all  kind  now?’  Still  no  reply.  Not  liking  to 
force  an  unwilling  expression  of  sorrow  from  her,  by 
depriving  her  of  her  lessons,  and  having  often  found 
that  showing  her  some  mark  of  kindness,  or  allowing 
her  to  do  something  for  me,  would  completely  subdue 
her  bad  feelings,  I allowed  her  to  give  some  account  of 
the  story  read  to  her  yesterday,  and  then  to  write  in 
her  journal.  She  wrote,  that  4 On  Friday  night  she 
struck  her  teacher  and  that  it  was  very  unkind,’  and 
brought  it  to  me.  I then  asked  her  again  if  she  knew 
that  she  had  not  told  me  she  was  sorry.  She  said, 
4 Yes,  I was  just  going  to  tell  you  that  I am  sorry,  and 
that  I have  resolved  to  control  myself.  I shall  never 
strike  you  again,  I am  so  earnest  to  have  my  excellent 
teacher  happy  always.  I hope  you  will  not  think  of  the 
bad  thing  any  more,  for  you  are  my  best  teacher.’ 
After  dinner  wre  did  not  stop  as  usual  to  speak  to  Mrs. 
S.,  and  she  asked  why.  Told  her  it  was  better  for 
her  to  think  than  to  talk,  and  besides  my  head  ached 
badly.  When  I spoke  of  my  head,  the  poor  child  threw 
her  arm£  around  my  neck,  and  put  her  head  on  my 
shoulder  saying,  4 1 am  so  sorry  that  your  head  aches  to 
think  so  much  about  me.  I promised  Martha  that  I 
would  always  be  kind  to  you.  Did  I hurt  you  very 
much?’  It  was  really  painful  to  see  her  distress,  and 
I did  the  best  I could  to  soothe  her. 

fc4  Dec.  15.  Laura  was  very  much  perplexed  by  very 
simple  things,  and  I was  obliged  to  repeat  a simple 
question  many  times  at  the  risk  of  losing  my  own 


286 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


patience.  When  the  difficulty  was  overcome,  she  said 
with  a triumphant  air,  4 I have  persevered  in  being 
good,  I have  not  been  impatient  any.’ 

44 Dec.  24.  She  said  this  morning,  ‘Last  night  I 
dreamed  so  strangely.  I thought  I was  but  fifteen 
years  old  and  that  I was  very  sick  and  was  going  to 
die.  At  last  you  and  Doctor  put  me  in  the  ground,  and 
I was  so  happy  to  be  in  heaven  : my  soul  was  in  heaven, 
but  when  you  put  the  earth  on  me,  it  gave  me  life  again. 
Who  can  tell  me  all  about  how  I shall  know  when  my 
breaths  are  going,  and  I am  going  to  die  ? Did  you  go 
to  see  Adeline  in  Cambridge  ? She  was  dead  and  they 
put  her  body  in  a box  and  put  her  in  the  ground.  Why 
do  they  put  people  in  the  ground  ? * Told  her  they 
could  not  use  their  bodies  any  longer  ; but  that  only  the 
worn-out  bodies  were  buried.  She  sat  thinking  some 
time  and  then  said,  4 Our  souls  do  not  die  when  our 
bodies  are  dead/  We  then  talked  about  the  importance 
of  taking  good  care  of  our  minds  if  they  lasted  so  long, 
and  tr}dng  to  make  them  good  and  honest  and  kind. 
We  know  the  necessity  of  taking  good  care  of  our  bod- 
ies, though  they  do  not  last  long,  etc.  She  added,  4 It 
is  very  solemn  to  think  soberly  about  death,  and  how 
very  good  we  ought  to  be.’  Several  times  in  th£  day  she 
returned  to  the  same  subject.  At  one  time  she  asked, 
4 Are  you  sure  that  heaven  is  much  larger  than  this 
world?’  and  said,  4 Mrs.  C.  told  me  all  about  heaven. 
She  said  it  was  much  larger  and  wider  and  higher 
than  this  world,  to  make  room  for  many  souls  Do 
you  know  about  it?  ’ I answered  that  I did  not  know, 
but  that  God  was  kind  and  good  to  every  one,  and  that 
if  we  were  good  we  should  be  happy  anywhere.  With 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


2m 


great  apparent  satisfaction  she  summed  up  the  whole 
subject  in  these  words,  4 He  is  our  Father ,’  and  then 
asked,  4 Why  did  Jesus  come  on  the  earth?  ’ I told  her 
that  he  came  to  tell  us  how  much  God  loved  us,  and  to 
teach  us  to  become  good.  She  said,  4 He  made  many 
sacrifices  for  men,  he  was  so  kind.’ 

44  Christmas  morning  she  said,  4 We  ought  to  remember 
and  think  much  about  Christ  to-day,  how  good  he  was,’ 
etc. 

44  She  has  often  amused  herself  during  the  past  year  by 
little  exercises  in  composition.  The  following  story, 
written  during  the  absence  of  her  teacher,  will  serve  as 
a specimen  of  her  use  of  language.  The  last  sentence, 
though  not  grammatical,  maybe  considered  as  the  moral, 
and  a very  good  moral  of  the  whole. 

THE  GOOD-NATURED  GIRL. 

Lucy  was  nearly  nine  years  old.  She  had  excellent 
parents.  She  always  did  with  alacrity  what  her  mother 
Requested  her  to  do.  She  told  Lucy  when  it  was  time 
for  her  to  go  to  school ; so  Lucy  ran  and  put  on  her 
bonnet  and  shawl,  and  then  she  went  back  to  her  mamma. 
She  offered  Lucy  a basket  containing  some  pie  and  cake 
for  luncheon.  And  Lucy  went  precisely  at  school-time 
and  when  she  got  to  the  house  she  took  her  own  seat 
and  began  to  study  diligently  with  all  the  children. 
And  she  alwa}’S  conformed  to  her  teacher’s  wishes.  In 
recess  she  took  luncheon  out  of  her  basket,  but  she  gave 
some  of  it  to  her  mates.  Lucy  had  some  books  with 
pictures  and  slate  in  her  desk.  When  she  went  home 
she  found  that  dinner  was  all  read}7.  Afterwards  her 
mother  took  her  to  take  tea  with  her  friends.  Lucy 


288 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


was  much  delighted  to  play  with  her  little  cousins,  Lucy 
and  Helen ; . and  they  let  her  see  their  playthings. 
After  tea  Lucy  was  sorry  to  depart ; and  when  she 
went  to  bed  she  thought  she  had  made  it  pleasantl}7  to 
all  her  friends  with  little  joyful  heart. 

“ Jan.  7,  1846.  Laura  was  full  of  glee  this  morning. 
4 1 am  so  very  happy.  I have  resolved  to  be  so  good. 
I am  so  happy  to  be  alive.’  Yesterday  I commenced 
teaching  her  a Bible  history.  It  will  be  exceedingly  diffi- 
cult to  give  her  an  idea  of  the  history  recorded  in  the 
Old  Testament  without  confusing  all  her  ideas  of  right 
and  wrong,  justice  and  humanity.” 

In  the  latter  part  of  February  the  journal  speaks 
of  her  as  having  been  "obedient,  generous,  and 
self-denying ; at  times  a little  irritable  for  a mo- 
ment, but  soon  recovering  herself,”  and  again,  "she 
has  learned  many  new  words  and  phrases,  but  has 
not  done  as  much  as  I expected  in  school.  I have 
frequently  omitted  lessons  when  she  seemed  too 
nervous  to  attend  to  them.”  She  continued  to  fail 
in  health,  and  in  May  went  with  Miss  Wight  to 
Philadelphia  to  visit  her  former  teacher.  She  had 
voluntarily  adopted  a diet  of  bread  and  milk,  to 
which  she  strictly  confined  herself  at  each  of  her 
three  meals.  No  delicacies  could  tempt  her, 
although  it  seemed  to  all  her  friends  that  she  was 
rapidly  growing  weaker  in  consequence  of  her 
persistence.  She  was  interested  in  meeting  old 
friends  and  in  making  new  acquaintances,  but  soon 
became  weary  and  languid. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


289 


It  was  decided  on  her  return  from  the  South  to 
try  the  effects  of  her  native  air,  and  she  went  with 
her  teacher  to  her  home  in  Hanover. 

From  the  journal  of  her  visit  there,  we  quote 
the  following : — 

“ Laura  appears  very  amiable  and  attentive  to  every 
one’s  wants,  and  exerts  herself  to  do  everything  in  her 
power  to  add  to  my  comfort  and  happiness.  She  some- 
times asks  me  if  she  sets  her  brothers  a good  example. 
She  evidently  feels  that  she  is  an  older  sister. 

“It  was  pleasant  to  see  her  with  Mr.  Tenny ; she 
seemed  to  have  entire  confidence  in  him.  Each  time 
he  visited  her  she  wished  to  go  to  the  barn  in  quest  of 
eggs  as  she  was  accustomed  to  do  when  a child.  She 
took  his  hand  and  would  go  alone  with  him  with  a con- 
fidence I have  rarely  seen  her  manifest  towards  a gen- 
tleman. Though  they  never  found  any  eggs,  she  never 
tired  of  the  search. 

“ One  day  she  said,  ‘ I will  write  some  new  things 
for  my  brothers  to  make  them  more  wise.’  She  wrote 
rapidly  on  a slate  the  following  : 1 1 hope  that  you  love 
God  very  much,  for  he  is  so  kind  always,  who  supplies 
us  with  such  beautiful  flowers,  and  many  other  things 
in  the  world  I love  him  extremely  much,  he  is  so 
benevolent.  You  must  exert  yourselves  to  think  of 
him,  how  good  and  kind  he  is,  and  that  he  loves  all  of 
his  children  and  to  have  them  do  what  he  wishes  them. 
We  will  all  be  very  happy  with  him,  if  we  are  always 
good  and  right,  as  long  as  we  live,  always.’ 

“ August , 1846 . Laura  said,  4 1 dreamed  last  night 
19 


290 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


that  I must  die.  I was  very  much  afraid.’  I talkeC 
with  her  until  she  became  quite  cheerful. 

44  Sept.  1.  Talked  with  Laura  about  our  mutual 
dependence.  Told  her  that  God  did  not  intend  we 
should  think  only  of  ourselves,  because  he  had  so  made 
us  that  we  could  not  be  comfortable  and  happy  without 
the  assistance  and  sympathy  of  those  about  us.  She 
asked,  4 Why  did  God  make  me  if  he  knew  I should 
have  so  many  faults  ? * I replied,  I thought  he  wished 
her  to  correct  her  faults,  and  enjoy  a very  happy  life, 
and  asked  her  if  she  had  not  lived  many  happy  hours. 
4 Yes.’  4 And  why  are  you  not  always  happy? ’ 4 I do 

not  always  feel  right  and  do  right.’ 

44  She  has  seemed  very  well  and  happy  to-day.  At 
first  she  was  unwilling  to  take  the  shower-bath  (which 
was  a new  thing  to  her) , but  I told  her  it  was  thought 
good  for  her  and  I hoped  she  had  courage  enough  to 
endure  the  disagreeable  feeling  for  a minute.  She 
laughed  and  said  she  was  very  brave,  and  went  in  reso- 
lutely. While  we  were  walking  she  wished  to  tell  me 
some  curious  dreams  she  had  had  recently.  4 1 dreamed 
I wrote  a letter  to  God,  and  tried  very  hard  to  get 
some  one  to  carry  it.  I told  him  that  I wanted  to 
come  to  visit  him  very  much.  I dreamed  that  I was  in 
heaven  once,  and  saw  God  with  my  eyes.’” 

She  had  been  persuaded  during  the  summer  to 
ride  a little  upon  a donkey,  and  now  overcame 
her  timidity  sufficiently  to  mount  a pony.  She 
rode  frequently,  having  a person  to  accompany 
her  to  hold  the  bridle,  and  enjoyed  the  exercise 
Very  much. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


291 


“ Sept.  11.  After  Laura’s  ride  on  the  pony,  took  her 
to  he  weighed,  and  found  her  weight  to  he  but  seventy- 
nine  pounds.  She  seemed  a little  troubled  by  it,  and  I 
told  her  I thought  if  she  ate  a little  meat  and  some  vege- 
tables she  would  grow  heavier  and  stronger  also.  ‘ I 
do  not  like  meat,’  was  her  reply.  ‘ But  will  you  not  try 
to  eat  a little  and  learn  to  like  it,  if  you  do  it  only  to 
please  me?’  ‘No,’  she  replied  with  a most  unamiable 
emphasis.  I was  no  less  surprised  than  grieved  at  such 
an  answer,  for  heretofore,  although  she  has  frequently 
differed  in  opinion,  she  has  been  ready  to  yield  to  me. 
In  all  little  things  she  obeys  me  without  hesitation,  or, 
‘ with  alacrity,’  as  she  often  says.  She  is  too  old  for 
us  to  expect  her  to  render  the  blind  obedience  of  a 
child,  but  her  self-esteem  will  make  her  unhappy  in  her 
future  life  unless  checked  now.  Her  situation  has  al- 
ways been  one  adapted  to  strengthen  this  feeling.  She 
has  a seat  apart  from  the  other  pupils  in  the  school- 
room, and  she  knows  that  she  is  an  object  of  more  inter- 
est than  any  of  the  other  blind  girls.” 

During  the  autumn,  with  the  return  of  cooler 
weather,  her  health  improved  and  she  resumed  her 
lessons,  and  in  December  she  was  again  at  work 
in  arithmetic,  having  advanced  as  far  as  Interest. 
She  was  also  having  lessons  in  grammar. 

“ Dec.  23.  Rev.  Dr.  Wayland  came  to  see  Laura, 
and  asked  her  many  questions.  He  read  a story  which 
she  had  written,  as  easily,  he  said,  as  if  he  had  written 
it  himself.  He  asked  if  he  might  take  a copy  of  it  for 
his  son,  and  she  told  him  she  would  send  it  to  him  for 


292 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


a Christmas  present.  Before  leaving  the  doctor  gave 
her  money  to  purchase  a Christmas  present  for  her- 
self. She  decided  that  it  would  give  her  more  pleas- 
ure to  expend  it  in  the  purchase  of  presents  for  her 
friends.  The  afternoon  was  spent  in  the  selection  of 
presents.  Among  others  she  remembered  a little  girl 
who  was  sick,  Lizzie  who  was  deaf,  Mrs.  C.’s  little  girl 
who  was  lame.  There  is  nothing  more  beautiful  in 
Laura’s  character  than  the  love  and  pity  she  shows  for 
all  the  afflicted,  however  uninteresting  they  may  be  in 
other  respects.  When  she  met  poor  Harriet,  the 
negro,  she  shrank  from  the  touch  of  her  hand,  4 it  was 
so  bonjr  and  strange,’  but  when  she  knew  that  she  was 
sick,  she  would  remind  me  to  go  and  see  her,  and  was 
anxious  that  I should  do  everything  I could  for  her,  and 
herself  bought  nice  fruit  to  send  her. 

44  Dec.  30.  In  our  walk  to-day  I checked  her  when 
she  was  making  one  of  her  noises.  She  asked  if  I 
remembered  when  she  used  to  be  impatient  when  she 
was  told  not  to  make  a noise  ; she  said,  4 I used  to  be 
impatient  and  look  cross  and  say  unkind  things.  I can 
be  good  and  gentle  so  much  easier  than  I coi^d  a year 
ago.’  I replied,  4 We  are  a great  deal  happier  now, 
that  we  do  not  have  such  things  to  trouble  us.’  And 
she  said,  4 1 hope  this  (new)  year  we  shall  not  have 
one  unkind,  wrong  thing  to  make  us  unhappy.’  Told 
her  I thought  she  had  improved  much  and  hoped  she 
would  improve  as  much  next  year.  4 Yes,  more/  was 
her  reply.  She  asked  to-day,  4 How  can  I became  dis- 
tinguished ? ’ ” 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1846,  Dr.  Howe 
writes : — 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


293 


“ It  was  stated  in  the  report  of  Laura  Bridgman, 
which  was  made  in  January  last,  that  her  health  had 
been  failing  during  several  months,  and  was  then  very 
feeble.  I am  sorry  to  say  that  it  continued  to  grow 
weaker  for  some  time,  and  has  not  yet  become  entirely 
re-established. 

“During  most  of  the  past  year  she  has  been  weak 
and  sickly.  In  the  spring  especially*,  she  became  very 
much  emaciated,  her  appetite  failed  almost  entirety, 
and  she  could  hardty  be  persuaded  to  take  nourishment 
enough  to  keep  her  alive. 

“She  was  placid  and  uncomplaining,  and  though 
never  gay  as  in  former  years,  she  was  never  gloomy. 
She  appeared  to  feel  no  fear  or  anxiety  concerning  her 
health,  and  when  questioned  closely  about  it  she  would 
answer  that  she  was  very  well.  Indeed,  the  change  had 
come  over  her  so  slowly  and  gradually  that  she  seemed 
to  be  hardty  conscious  of  it,  and  showed  surprise  when 
it  was  alluded  to.  Sometimes,  indeed,  when  she  found 
that  she  was  wearied  by  walking  half  a mile,  she  was 
forced  to  remember  her  former  long  walks  of  five  and 
six  miles,  and  to  think  about  the  change. 

“As  she  grew  thinner  and  paler  and  weaker,  she 
appeared  to  be  laying  aside  the  garments  of  the  flesh, 
and  her  spirit  shone  out  brighter  though  its  transparent 
veil.  Her  countenance  became  more  spiritualized,  and 
its  pensive  expression  told  truly  that,  though  there  was 
no  gloom,  neither  was  there  any  gladness  in  the  heart. 

“ Her  intellect  was  clear  and  active,  and  she  would 
fain  have  indulged  in  conversation  and  study  about 
subjects  of  a serious  nature  ; but  she  was  sensitive  and 
excitable,  and  the  mental  activity  and  craving  were 


294 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


perhaps  morbid . Be  that  as  it  may,  however,  she  was 
at  a fearful  crisis  in  her  life,  and  it  seemed  to  be  our 
first  duty  to  save  that.  She  was  therefore  not  only 
diverted  from  all  exciting  trains  of  thought,  but  dis- 
suaded from  pursuing  her  usual  course  of  study.  Vf e 
were  very  desirous  not  to  alarm  her  by  showing  the 
anxiety  which  was  really  felt  about  her  ; and  this  object 
was  gained  so  effectually  that  she  probably  did  not 
discover  her  danger.  She  is  always  very  observant, 
however,  and  ascertains  the  state  of  mind  of  those  about 
her  by  reading  parts  of  the  natural  language  of  the 
emotions,  which  we  never  observe,  but  which  are  as 
sure  guides  to  her  as  the  expression  of  the  countenance 
is  to  us.  It  is  almost  impossible  that  her  companions 
should  feel  particularly  gay  or  sad,  and  withhold  the 
knowledge  of  it  from  Laura.  The  natural  language  of 
the  feelings  is  almost  infinite.  A common  observer 
reads  only  the  page  of  the  countenance,  the  keener  one 
finds  meaning  in  tones  of  the  voice,  or,  looking  more 
closely,  reads  signs  in  the  very  shaking  of  hands  ; but 
Laura  not  only  observes  the  tones  <f  the  finger  language , 
she  finds  meaning  in  every  posture  of  the  body  and  in 
every  movement  of  limb ; in  the  various  play  of  the 
muscles  she  observes  the  gentle  pressure  of  affection, 
the  winning  force  of  persuasion,  the  firm  motion  of 
command,  the  quick  jerk  of  impatience,  the  sudden 
spasm  of  temper,  and  many  other  variations  which  she 
interprets  swiftly  and  correctly. 

“ With  all  these  means  of  ascertaining  the  state  of 
her  teachers  feelings,  and  with  the  certainty  that  an 
untrue  answer  would  never  be  given  her,  Laura  would 
surely  have  learned  that  her  life  was  thought  to  be  in 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


295 


Rome  danger  if  she  had  ever  been  accustomed  to  dwell 
upon  thoughts  of  sickness  and  death  ; but  she  had  not, 
and  therefore  she  walked  without  a shudder  upon  the 
brink  of  the  grave. 

“ The  result  was  as  I had  hoped  and  expected  that 
it  would  be,  for  I was  more  sanguine  than  others.  The 
natural  strength  of  her  constitution,  which  had  tri- 
umphed in  that  fearful  struggle  during  her  infancy, 
though  at  the  expense  of  two  of  the  most  important 
organs  of  sense,  had  been  carefully  nurtured  by  con- 
stant exercise,  simple  diet,  and  regular  habits  of  mind 
and  body,  and  it  carried  her  safely  through  this  second 
trial..  After  she  had  been  brought  so  low  that  it 
seemed  as  if  the  tendency  to  disease  could  find  no  more 
resistance  to  overcome,  it  yielded  at  last,  and  then  the 
vital  powers  began  to  rally  slowly. 

“ When  the  weather  grew  warmer,  she  began  a course 
of  sea-bathing  and  of  exercise  upon  horseback.  These 
occupied  and  amused  her  mind  and  strengthened  her 
bod}" ; and  she  continued  to  grow  better  through  the 
year,  very  slowly,  indeed,  but  surely.  She  has  now 
recovered  some  portion  of  her  lost  flesh  ; and  her  appe- 
tite is  so  far  restored  that  she  eats  a sufficient  quantity 
of  bread  and  milk,  but  does  not  like  anything  else. 
She  does  not  wish  to  change  her  food  at  all,  but  when 
meal-time  arrives,  she  sits  down  cheerfully  to  her  simple 
bread  and  milk,  morning,  noon,  and  evening,  and  having 
finished  that,  she  disregards  all  the  dainties  and  the 
fruits  with  which  the  capricious  appetite  of  invalids  is 
usually  tempted.  Her  present  diet  is  one  of  her  own 
choice,  and  though  it  is  not  the  best,  and  its  sameness 
is  unwise,  we  do  not  insist  upon  a change  while  she  is 


296 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


manifestly  thriving,  because  it  might  do  more  harm 
than  to  indulge  a caprice  of  appetite,  not  uncommon 
with  delicate  persons. 

44  But  the  best  sign  of  returning  health  is  the  change 
which  has  taken  place  in  her  animal  spirits,  nor  is  this 
change  uninteresting  in  a moral  point  of  view.  Before 
her  illness,  she  was  not  only  a happy,  but  a merry  child, 
who  tripped  cheerfully  along  her  dark  and  silent  path 
of  life,  bearing  sportfully  a burden  of  infirmity  that 
would  have  crushed  a stout  man,  and  regarding  her 
existence  as  a boon  given  in  love,  and  to  be  expended 
in  joy ; since  her  illness,  she  seems  to  be  a thoughtful 
girl,  from  whom  the  spontaneous  joy  of  childhood  has 
departed,  and  who  is  cheerful  or  sad  in  sympathy  with 
the  feelings  of  those  about  her. 

4 4 1 hope  and  believe  that  her  health  will  be  perfectly 
restored,  although  it  is  still  very  frail,  and  easily  de- 
ranged by  any  over-exertion  of  body  or  mind.  Per- 
haps a complete  change  may  take  place  in  her  physical 
system,  and  her  now  slender  form  develop  itself  into 
the  proportions  of  a large  woman ; such  changes  are 
not  unfrequent  after  such  severe  crises.  At  all  events, 
with  restoration  of  health  will  come  a return  to  those 
studies  and  occupations  which  have  been  necessarily 
suspended. 

44  She  was  just  beginning  to  understand  that,  as  she 
was  getting  freed  from  her  obligations  of  unconditional 
obedience  to  those  who  had  directed  her  childhood,  she 
must  come  under  no  less  unconditional  obedience  to  the 
new  monitor  and  master,  the  conscience,  that  was  as- 
serting its  rule  within  her ; and  the  veneration  and 
affection  for  human  friends,  which  are  the  first  objects 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


297 


of  the  awakened  germ  of  the  religious  feeling,  were 
gradually  tending  upwards  and  expanding  into  worship 
and  love  of  God. 

“This  transformation  of  her  soul,  this  disinthral- 
ment  of  its  high  and  independent  powers,  was  becom- 
ing perfectly  clear  to  her  by  means  of  instruction,  and 
would  have  changed  what  had  been  mere  habit  and 
blind  obedience  into  conscious  duty  and  stern  principle, 
but  the  process  was  necessarily  interrupted.  Such  in- 
struction would  of  course  require  the  consideration  of 
subjects  which  were  to  her  of  the  most  intensely  excit- 
ing interest,  and  might  have  cost  her  life. 

“ I know  that  many  will  say  that  I had  already  com- 
mitted a great  error  by  deferring  the  consideration  of 
these  subjects  so  long,  and  that  I should  have  tried  to 
retrieve  it  by  giving  at  once  the  knowledge  which  they 
suppose  necessary  to  eternal  salvation,  even  at  the  ex- 
pense of  mortal  life.  To  this  I have  only  to  answer, 
that  I have  gratefully  received  and  carefully  weighed 
all  the  counsel  which  has  been  given  to  me  in  the  spirit 
of  kindness,  but  that  it  has  failed  to  alter  my  views  of 
my  duty. 

“ A general  review  of  her  character  and  deportment 
during  the  past  year  gives  rise  to  some  agreeable  reflec- 
tions. In  former  years,  though  she  presented  an  ex- 
traordinary example  of  gentleness,  truthfulness,  and 
affection,  she  showed,  like  most  children,  occasional  ex- 
cesses of  feeling,  which  required  her  conduct  to  be  under 
the  regulation  of  others,  so  that  she  was  not  entirely 
a free  moral  agent.  During  the  last  year  the  reins  of 
authority  have  been  slackened  ; she  has  been  allowed  to 
follow  more  freely  her  own  inclinations,  and  though  her 


298 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


teacher  has  been,  as  in  former  years,  her  constant  com 
panion,  and  doubtless  exercised  great  influence  over  hen  J 
yet  her  society  and  companionship  have  been  ratherj 
sought  by  Laura  than  imposed  upon  her.  Opportunity  j 
has  thus  been  given  her  to  develop  her  individuality  of  j 
character,  and  to  exercise  her  moral  powers  by  self- 
guidance. 

‘ ‘ It  would  have  been  practicable  to  keep  her  in  leading 
strings  still  longer,  and  by  taking  advantage  of  habit 
to  require  unconditional  obedience  for  years  to  come,, 
though  this  might  have  been  difficult,  for  she  evidently 
inherits  a strong  self-will ; but  the  time  had  arrived  when 
she  ought  to  begin  to  govern  herself ; she  showed  con- 
siderable capacity  for  doing  so,  and  it  would  have  been 
wrong  to  keep  her  in  subjection. 

“Not  only  was  it  right  to  give  her  considerable  free- 
dom of  action,  but  to  have  withheld  it  would  have  been 
injurious  to  her  moral  growth,  by  the  loss  of  that  exer- 
cise in  self-government  which  prepares  one  for  complete 
independence  of  thought  and  action.  The  result  of  1 
leaving  her  in  comparative  freedom  has  shown  that  self- 
government,  when  the  proper  age  for  it  has  arrived,  and 
the  previous  habits  have  been  good,  is  as  much  better 
than  foreign  government,  as  walking  by  the  aid  of  its 
own  bones  and  muscles  is  better  for  a child  than  going 
in  leading-strings. 

“ Her  thoughts,  as  I remarked  before,  have  been  of  a 
more  serious  nature,  and  her  conduct  more  sober,  during 
the  past  year,  than  in  former  times.  This  is  probably  the 
natural  consequence  of  the  lowered  tone  of  her  physical 
health,  and  not,  as  I have  been  able  to  discover,  of  any 
thought  or  fear  of  death. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


299 


“ Already  with  returning  health  and  strength  there 
appear  glimpses  of  her  former  gayety  of  heart ; and 
though  she  may  never  again  be  the  merry,  thoughtless 
girl  that  she  was,  we  may  hope  to  see  in  her  a happy 
and  cheerful  woman.  She  will  no  longer  be  the  same 
object  of  public  curiosity  and  interest  that  she  has  been, 
<&ut  she  will  not  be  the  object  of  less  care  and  affection 
to  her  friends  so  long  as  her  frail  life  shall  last.” 


300 


LAURA  S. RID G MAP. 


u 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  only  record  of  the  year  1847,  we  find  ini 
Miss  Wight’s  journal,  extending  through  the  first; 
six  months.  We  select  the  following  entries  : — - 

44  Jan.  4 , 1847.  Laura  said  she  should  like  to  be 
excused  from  the  shower-bath  on  Sunday  as  she  wanted  i 
more  time.  She  wished  she  had  a Bible  to  read  in  her- 
self. I told  her  I could  read  to  her  from  mine.  Shei), 
replied,  4 But  it  is  much  better  to  read  the  Bible  our- 
selves. ’ I soon. convinced  her  that  she  could  not  under- 
stand it  if  she  should  attempt  to  read  it  alone,  and  she  said, 

4 I wish  you  would  read  to  me  every  day  in  the  Bible. 
How  did  God  tell  the  first  man  about  himself?’  Told! 
her  I did  not  know  exactly,  but  that  God  gave  menir 
minds  capable  of  thinking  of  him,  and  some  very  good;; 
men  had  many  thoughts  about  God.  She  asked,  4 And  ! 
did  they  tell  each  other  and  each  other,  so  that  all  the 
young  children  might  know  about  God?  ’ I added  that 
at  last  Christ  came,  and  he  told  the  people  much  more 
about  God.  4 How  long  has  God  lived?  ’ My  answer 
puzzled  her  apparently.  She  sat  holding  my  hand  while 
thinking ; she  was  trying  to  grasp  infinity,  and  then 
asked,  4 Why  can  we  not  think  how  very  long  God  has 
lived  ? ’ 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


301 


4 4 Jan.  5.  It  was  a bright,  warm  day,  and  as  we  walked 
Laura  stopped  and  turned  her  face  upward  toward  the 
sun,  saying,  ‘ It  is  very  pleasant.  Why  does  our  heavenly 
Father  let  his  sun  shine  on  us  in  our  wrong  days  ? ’ I 
do  not  know  why  she  spoke  of  wrong  days,  unless 
because,  half  an  hour  before,  she  told  me  half  impatiently 
that  I spelled  a word  incorrectly.  Of  late  she  has  not 
shown  any  of  those  little  impatient  feelings  that  we  used 
to  see  so  much  when  everything  was  not  as  she  wished 
it.  It  is  seldom  now  that  she  gives  me  one  troubled 
thought.  It  seems  as  if  she  . had  no  wrong  thoughts, 
for  she  certainly  does  not  express  them  in  look,  word,  or 
act.  She  has  seemed  more  quietly  happy  than  I have 
ever  known  her  before. 

“Jan.  10.  Laura  asked  me  as  usual  about  the 
sermons  that  I had  heard  during  the  day,  The  sub- 
ject of  the  afternoon  was  4 forgiveness.’  On  hearing 
this,  her  first  eager  inquiry  was,  4 How  can  I know  if 
God  has  forgiven  me,  for  I used  to  do  wrong  so  often?  ’ 
I gave  her  an  account  of  the  sermon,  which  seemed  to 
satisfy  her. 

44  Jan.  14.  At  noon  commenced  reading  the  second 
chapter  of  Matthew  to  Laura.  The  first  eight  verses 
occupied  us  closely  for  more  than  half  an  hour.  She 
asked  question  upon  question  At  last  she  began  to  grow 
nervous,  and  I took  her  to  the  school-room  to  divert 
her  mind.  She  said  as  I closed  the  book,  4 We  shall  be 
so  happy  to  meet  Christ  when  we  go  to  heaven.  I 
wish  we  could  see  him  now  here  with  us.’ 

44  Jan.  15.  Finished  reading  the  second  chapter  of 
Matthew.  Laura  was  shocked  at  the  perfidy  of  Herod 
in  pretending  that  he  wished  to  worship  Christ,  when 


302 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


he  wished  to  destroy  him,  and  with  his  cruelty  in  order- 
ing the  destruction  of  the  infant  children  of  Bethlehem  ; 
she  was  much  afraid  that  Herod  would  at  last  discover 
where  the  infant  Jesus  had  gone. 

“ Jan.  18.  She  asked  to  hear  again  the  chapter  that 
I had  read,  and  in  addition  I read  the  account  of 
Christ’s  visit  to  Jerusalem  at  the  age  of  twelve  years 
as  recorded  in  Luke.  She  asked  if  he  did  right  to 
stay  away  from  his  parents  to  make  them  sorrowful. 

“ Jan.  29.  Gave  her  a copy  of  the  New  Testament 
that  she  might  read  herself  the  fifth  chapter  of  Mat- 
thew. It  is  a very  slow  process,  for  every  sentence 
must  be  explained.  Almost  every  day  when  I have 
been  explaining  something,  she  tells  me,  ‘Yes,  I knew 
before ; you  have  told  me  many  times.’  Though  she 
knows  little  of  the  form  in  which  the  Scriptures  are 
written,  she  is  familiar  with  their  spirit.  She  was  inter- 
ested in  the  blessing  promised  to  the  pure  in  heart. 
When  I had  told  her  what  was  meant  by  seeing  God, 
and  that  the  pure  and  good  were  more  like  God, 
could  understand  his  character  better,  would  think  of 
him  more,  and  love  him  better,  she  asked,  ‘ Is  God 
near  our  minds  ? Could  we  be  as  happy  if  he  was  not 
with  us  ? How  do  you  know  we  could  not  live  with- 
out him?’  She  read  over  two  or  three  times,  ‘Ye  are 
the  salt  of  the  earth.’  She  asked,  ‘ What  did  Christ 
mean?  We  are  not  salt.’ 

“ Feb.  1.  Laura  received  a letter  from  her  mother 
containing  intelligence  of  the  death  of  her  old  friend, 
Mr.  Tenny.  As  I read  the  letter  her  face  was  first 
red  and  then  turned  pale  again.  She  said,  ‘ I am  very 
sad  that  my  oldest  friend  is  dead,  that  I never  can  see 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


303 


him  again.  But  I think  he  is  much  happier  now,  for 
he  was  always  so  good  and  kind  to  eveiybody.  She  sat 
by  me  in  silence,  and  then  said  half  inquiringly,  4 1 
think  Mr  Tenny  can  see  us  now.’  She  called  to  mind 
the  many  little  kindnesses  the  poor  old  man  had  shown 
her,  and  thought  of  nothing  else  until  she  prepared  to 
go  to  church  with  me.  She  had  a crape  badge  which 
had  been  worn  at  the  time  of  President  Harrison’s 
death,  and  wished  to  wear  it 

44  Feb.  3.  Laura  still  thinks  much  of  Mr  Tenny. 
His  death  has  sensibly  affected  her.  Beside  her  regret 
for  him,  she  feels  the  reality  of  death  more  than  ever 
before.  She  asked,  4 Do  you  think  I shall  be  afraid 
when  I am  dying?  I do  not  understand  how  people 
feel  when  they  are-  dying.’ 

44  Feb.  6.  I read  and  explained  the  Lord’s  Prayer. 
After  this  she  wanted  me  to  tell  her  about  prayer,  how 
we  could  pray,  etc.  I told  her  that  we  prayed  for  those 
things  that  we  desired  most  earnestly  to  receive,  and 
asked  her  what  she  thought  we  needed  most,  and  should 
be  most  anxious  to  receive.  Her  reply  was,  4 To  be 
sorry  when  we  have  done  wrong,  and  for  God  to  for- 
give us.’  4 Do  you  think  of  anything  else?’  4 Good- 
ness,’ she  added  with  emphasis. 

44  Feb.  8.  Laura  went  to  church  with  me,  and  asked 
the  subject  of  the  sermon.  I told  her,  Christ’s  tempta- 
tions. She  said, 4 Christ  was  never  tempted  to  do  wrong  ! 
It  is  not  true,  I cannot  credit  it.’ 

^ Feb.  12.  She  went  to  a dentist  to  have  a tooth 
extracted,  and  attempted  to  take  ether  to  produce 
insensibility  to  pain,  but  she  was  much  alarmed  when 
she  perceived  that  it  was  depriving  her  of  the  power  of 


304 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


motion  and  of  thought ; she  fancied  she  was  dying,  and 
said  she  dreamed  of  God  and  heaven  while  she  was 
without  the  power  of  motion.  It  was  finally  decided  to 
take  it  out  without  the  gas,  and  she  bore  it  bravely. 

“ Feb.  14.  She  wrote  to  her  brother  to-day,  4 Do 
you  like  to  endeavor  to  imitate  Christ?  Christ  was 
very  perfect,  & had  such  a very  beautiful  character. 
My  dearest  teacher  Wight  teaches  me  six  lessons  every 
day,  arithmetic,  history,  Bible  & reading  stories, 
grammar  & writing  journal,  & other  different  things. 
I like-  to  hear  of  Christ  & his  character,  & our 
Father,  the  best  of  all  in  the  world.  Do  you  both  learn 
to  comprehend  the  Bible  much  better  than  last  summer  ? 
I should  like  you  to  write  to  me  all  about  your  imitat- 
ing Christ.  I am  ver}^  sad  not  to  see  my  oldest  & 
dearest  friend,  Mr.  Tenny,  ever  on  this  earth.  I used 
to  love  & respect  him  very  much.  When  I am  in 
Hanover  again  I should  miss  him.  It  would  appear 
very  lonely  to  me  also.  I have  the  pin  which  he  gave 
me  when  I visited  you  all.  I used  to  wear  it  every  day, 
& remember  him  by  it  constantly.  Where  is  his  body 
buried  ? ’ 

“ Feb.  16.  Dr.  Howe  spoke  to-day  of  the  improve- 
ment in  Laura’s  character  that  has  taken  place  the  last 
year.  This  may  be  ascribed  in  part  to  the  quiet  life 
that  she  has  led,  and  in  part  to  the  rule  that  I have 
always  observed,  of  never  allowing  even  the  slightest 
fault  to  pass  without  some  notice,  at  the  time  or  after- 
ward. She  has  learned  4 that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give 
than  to  receive,’  for  she  is  evidently  more  pleased  when 
she  can  bestow  a present  than  when  she  receives  one. 
Another  reason  for  her  improvement  may  perhaps  be 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


305 


found  in  a remark  she  made  to  me  the  last  time  she 
manifested  any  impatience.  4 1 thought  quickly  about 
Jesus  Christ,  how  good  he  was,  and  then  my  good  feel- 
ings came  again.’ 

44  March  24.  To-day,  for  the  first  time,  she  seemed 
to  be  struck  with  wonder  at  the  account  of  the  miracles 
recorded  as  performed  by  Christ.  Before  this  time  she 
received  all  as  a matter  of  fact,  but  to-day  in  reading 
the  eighth  chapter  of  Matthew  she  asked,  4 How  did 
Christ  heal  the  sick?  Did  he  give  them  medicine? 
How  could  they  get  well  so  quickly?  ’ I replied  that  I 
could  not  tell  how,  that  some  good  people  thought  that 
Matthew  was  mistaken,  but  that  Christ  was  so  much 
purer  and  better  than  any  one  else,  he  might  have 
power  that  we  do  not  know  of.  This  seemed  to  satisfy 
her.  Her  implicit  faith  in  what  she  is  told  makes  me 
tremble  lest  I should  mislead  her.  4 If  Christ  had  been 
here  when  Jane  Damon  was  sick,  do  you  think  he  would 
have  cured  her?  Would  he  have  cured  me  when  I was 
sick,  so  that  I should  not  have  been  deaf  and  blind  ? * 
I tried  to  show  her  how  Christ  would  do  much  more  for 
us  now  than  to  cure  our  sickness  of  body,  if  we  loved 
his  character  and  tried  to  imitate  it. 

44  April  1.  Laura  asked,  4 Why  did  God  make  us  to 
be  sick  and  suffer  pain  if  he  loved  us?’  I reminded 
her  of  the  pain  she  had  suffered  from  a slight  burn,  and 
told  her  that  this  pain  might  have  saved  her  from  much 
greater  injury.  Then  we  talked  of  the  various  ways  in 
which  life  might  be  saved  by  attending  to  the  warning 
that  speaks  to  us  so  loudly  through  physical  suffering  ; 
of  the  effects  of  eating  improper  food,  of  neglecting 
exercise,  bathing,  exposure  to  cold  air,  etc. 

20 


306 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


“ April  2.  While  Laura  was  reading,  I asked  her 
to  repeat  twice  a word  that  she  had  spelled  incorrectly, 
and  that  I did  not  understand.  She  seized  my  hand 
and  in  her  impatience  put  my  finger  between  her  teeth 
as  if  she  would  have  bitten  it,  but  suddenly  recollecting 
herself,  she  kissed  it  and  turned  away  her  face,  which, 
from  being  pale,  became  very  red.  In  an  instant  she 
turned  to  me,  saying,  4 Will  you  please  to  forgive  me, 
for  I shall  never  do  such  a thing  again.  It  is  so  natu. 
ral  for  all  people  to  be  impatient  sometimes,  except 
some  very  kind  people  who  are  never  impatient.  I 
think  they  try  to  imitate  Christ.  I feel  impatient  in  my 
mind  sometimes,  but  I do  not  let  you  know  it.’  I told 
her  that  probably  every  one  felt  it  sometimes,  but  when 
we  had  learned  to  control  the  expression  of  it,  the  feel- 
ing could  not  last  long.  4 Are  3Tou  ever  impatient? 
But  you  never  let  your  impatience  act/ 

44  Easter  Sunday.  Talking  of  the  sermon  that  I had 
heard,  I was  led  for  the  first  time  to  speak  to  Laura  of 
the  manner  of  Christ’s  death.  4 Were  the  people  not  very 
unkind  ? Why  did  not  Christ  escape  ? ’ were  her  questions. 
Tried  to  show  her  how  Christ  had  manifested  his  love  for 
men  b}7  persisting  in  teaching  the  truth,  though  he  knew 
that  the  end  of  it  must  be  a cruel  death ; also  that 
while  Christ  lived  his  disciples  hoped  that  he  would 
help  them  to  be  free  from  the  Romans,  and  that  it  was 
only  after  his  ignominious  death  that  they  could  realize 
that  he  was  a teacher,  and  not  a governor. 

“April  4.  We  read,  4 But  if  ye  forgive  not  men 
their  trespasses,  neither  will  you  Heavenly  Father  for- 
give you.’  She  said,  4 But  I am  sure  our  benevolent 
Father  will  forgive  us  if  we  do  not  forgive  others/  This 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


307 


led  to  a long  conversation  on  the  subject  of  forgiveness, 
in  what  it  consists,  etc.  She  said,  4 We  shall  be  with  God 
when  we  die.’  ‘Yes/  4 But  heaven  is  an  immense  place, 
much  larger  than  this  earth,  for  one  of  my  friends  told  me 
so  many  years  ago.’  She  clings  to  this  idea  of  a place  of 
habitation  for  happy  spirits.  I convinced  her  that  the 
situation  in  which  we  were  placed  did  not  of  itself  make 
us  happy  or  miserable,  lay  appealing  to  her  own  experi- 
ence and  that  of  others  around  her.  She  asked,  4 How 
can  I be  sure  that  God  is  always  with  us  ? ’ 

44  May  1.  Dr.  Howe  has  decided  to  take  Laura’s 
religious  instruction  entirely  into  his  own  hands.  She 
returned  from  her  lesson  to-day  very  eager  to  talk  with 
me.  4 Doctor  says  I must  remember  when  I read  the 
Bible  that  there  are  many  mistakes  in  it.  Do  you 
believe  there  is  any  revelation?  Doctor  says  some 
people  do  not  believe  it,  but  there  surely  is.  Why  do 
you  not  teach  me  as  Doctor  does  about  the  Bible  ? ’ I 
replied  that  we  did  not  think  exactly  alike  about  all 
things.  4 Why  not?’  she  asked,  and  seemed  a little 
troubled.  Her  color  changed  and  she  looked  very 
serious  for  a few  moments,  and  then  said,  4 Why  is 
your  manner  more  diffident  and  timid  than  Doctor’s 
when  you  talk  to  me  about  God  and  the  Bible  ? And 
when  you  talk  about  wrong  things  you  speak  more 
gently  and  sadly,  and  not  so  firmly,  as  other  people 
do.’ 

4 4 June  1 . We  left  Boston  for  a visit  to  Hanover, 
and  met  Laura’s  father  in  Concord.  In  the  course  of 
the  journey  she  made  many  inquiries  about  her  old 
friend,  Mr.  Tenny.  She  asked  me,  4 Would  you  like 
to  go  with  me  to  see  the  place  where  he  was  buried,  for 


308 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


I should  like  to  go  ? Do  you  think  he  was  sad  not  to 
see  me  again  before  he  died  ? I shall  miss  him  con- 
stantly. Do  you  think  he  can  see  us  now,  and  know 
what  we  are  thinking  about?’  I tried  to  give  her 
pleasant  thoughts  and  told  her  that  her  friend,  who 
was  so  kind  to  her,  was  not  in  the  ground,  that  he 
was  still  living,  more  loving  than  ever,  and  much  hap- 
pier than  when  he  was  in  his  poor  sick  body.  Again 
she  asked,  ‘ How  can  I know  when  I am  going  to  die  ? ’ 
and  with  a shudder  said,  ‘ I hope  I shall  not  be  sick.’ 
I talked  quietly  and  gently  with  her  of  God’s  love  and 
care  for  all  things  he  had  made  ; told  her  how  He  took 
care  of  the  birds  and  the  bees,  and  all  living  things,  and 
how  sure  we  might  be  that  he  would  do  all  that  was 
best  for  us.  She  grew  calm  and  even  cheerful  by 
degrees.  I do  not  intend  to  talk  with  her  now  on  such 
subjects,  but  under  such  circumstances  it  was  unavoid- 
able. In  the  course  of  the  conversation  she  said, 
‘ Heaven  is  above  us  over  the  sky.  Can  you  see  into 
heaven?  Look,  up — up.’  I told  her,  ‘We  were  in 
heaven  now,  when  we  were  good  and  doing  good.’ 
‘ And  about  the  bad  ? How  will  God  prevent  the  bad 
from  going  to  heaven  ? ’ I replied  that  those  who  had 
bad  feelings  could  not  be  happy  anywhere,  and  con- 
vinced her  that  no  place  or  circumstances  could  make 
her  happy,  if  she  were  conscious  of  doing  or  desiring 
any  wrong  thing. 

“ Mr.  Tenny  remembered  her  to  the  last,  and  only 
a few  weeks  before  his  death  he  tried  to  write  to  her,  but 
was  unable  to  finish  the  letter.  A day  or  two  before  he 
died  he  wished  that  he  had  money  to  buy  a basket  of 
an  Indian  woman  for  the  deaf,  dumb,  and  blincT  child. 


LAVRA  BRIDGMAN 


309 


“ Almost  all  the  pleasant  remembrances  which  Laura 
has  of  the  first  part  of  her  life  seem  to  be  associated 
with  Uncle  Asa,  as  he  was  familiarly  known  through  the 
village.  While  her  mother  was  absorbed  in  her  house- 
hold duties,  he  carried  or  led  her  gently  from  one  neigh- 
bor’s to  another  ; over  the  hills  in  search  of  berries  and 
nuts  ; to  the  fields  for  apples  ; to  the  barn  for  eggs  ; to 
the  brook  to  show  her  the  running  water ; in  short,  he 
seemed  to  have  found  his  happiness  in  trying  to  amuse 
this  afflicted  child. 

“ The  sight  of  Laura  seems  to  recall  him  to  the  minds 
of  all  the  people,  and  almost  every  one  has  some  story 
to  tell  of  ‘ the  time  when  she  was  a little  thing,  and 
came  to  see  them  with  Uncle  Asa.’ 

4 1 June  29  We  returned  from  Hanover  to  Boston. 
Laura  enjoyed  her  visit  very  much,  but  made  her  prep- 
arations for  leaving  with  great  cheerfulness. 

“ July  11.  Laura  remained  at  home  writing.  After 
church  I found  her  unusually  nervous,  even  sad.  Yester- 
day, as  well  as  to-daj",  her  mind  has  been  full  of  thoughts 
of  sickness,  of  death,  of  heaven,  etc.  For  every  one 
whom  she  meets  she  has  a question  ready.  This  seems 
to  me  unfortunate  for  her,  as  she  is  now  I am  afraid 
this  uncomfortable  state  of  mind  has  been  brought  on  in 
part  by  the  change  which  she  has  probably  noticed  ‘in 
me.  I have  rather  avoided  such  subjects  instead  of 
talking  freely  and  naturally  as  formerly  with  her.  I am 
sure  it  is  best  for  Laura  to  be  with  one  whose  thoughts 
and  feelings  are  so  nearly  right  that  the  child  can  feel 
that  they  are  not  intentionally  concealed  from  her.  I 
am  sure  that  Dr.  Howe  can  teach  her  infinitely  better 
than  I can,  yet  important  as  his  instructions  may  be  to 


310 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her,  they  cannot  take  the  place  of  the  words  that  she 
craves  daily  and  hourly  from  a friend  who  is  constantly 
with  her.  It  is  almost  overwhelming  when  one  thinks 
of  all  that  is  needed  for  the  judicious  training  of  one 
child,  so  much  wisdom  and  so  much  goodness  ! 

44  July  12.  Doctor  tells  me  it  is  better  that  I should 
answer  her  questions  upon  all  subjects,  and  not  try  to 
avoid  conversing  with  her  on  any. 

44 July  13.  Laura’s  lesson  in  history  was  upon 
Thebes.  She  expressed  her  surprise  that  the  people 
were  so  fond  of  fighting.  ‘ Did  the  Thebans  and  Spar- 
tans and  Persians  know  about  our  Father  ? I do  not 
think  they  did,  for  they  would  not  fight  so  much.* 
When  speaking  of  God  now  she  always  says  4 our 
Father.’  When  we  talk  of  a beautiful  flower,  a pleasant 
day,  a little  infant,  or  a^thing  that  interests  her,  it  is 
not  uncommon  for  her  to  ask,  ‘ Does  it  remind  you  of 
our  kind  Father  in  heaven?’  She  asked,  4 Are  there 
any  people  on  the  earth  who  are  afraid  to  leave  their 
bodies  ? ’ I reminded  her  again  of  that  part  of  Christ’s 
teachings  that  interested  her  so  much  when  she  read  it, 
of  God’s  care  even  for  the  sparrows.  She  asked,  4 How 
long  shall  you  live?  I shall  be  very  sad  when  you 
die.’  4 Why  did  God  clothe  our  spirits  with  flesh? 
Why  did  he  give  us  eyes  and  ears  and  hands  ? I want 
to  read  the  Psalms,  I can  understand  them  so  much 
better  now.  I wish  you  would  resume  your  reading  to 
me  in  the  Bible,  it  makes  me  the  happiest  to  know 
about  Christ  and  God.  I am  very  happy  now,  much 
happier  than  three  years  ago.  I thank  you  very  much 
for  your  good  influence  on  me.’ 

44  Talking  one  day  about  the  ancient  Greeks,  she 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


311 


said,  4 I am  glad  we  are  so  much  better  and  happier  than 
barbarians.  We  shall  be  much  happier  in  heaven/ 

4 4 I have  observed  several  times  of  late  a feeling  of 
satisfaction  with  herself  at  her  own  improvement.  I 
have  tried  to  remove  this  in  part  by  giving  her  exam- 
ples of  the  greatest  goodness  and  excellence,  that  she 
may  feel  that  there  is  yet  something  above  her  that  she 
may  attain,  but  her  natural  self-esteem,  joined  to  the 
consciousness  of  possessing  many  right  and  kind  feel- 
ings, often  fills  her  heart  with  thankfulness  that  she  is 
4 not  as  other  men  are/  ” 

" Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take  heed 
lest  he  fall,”  was  verified  in  Laura’s  case,  for  after 
months  of  exemption,  she  yielded  again  on  two  or 
three  occasions  to  her  besetting  sin  of  anger,  only, 
however,  to  reach  greater  depths  of  penitence,  and 
to  make  new  resolves  never  to  be  overcome  again. 

From  July,  1847,  we  find  no  notes  by  Miss 
Wight  until  October,  1847,  but  fill  the  gap  by 
extracts  from  Laura’s  own  journal,  which  she  was 
in  the  habit  of  writing  daily. 

Under  date  of  Jan.  6,  1848,  after  noting  the 
occupations  of  the  morning,  she  writes  : — 

44  In  the  p.  m.  we  had  a pleasant  conversation  for 
a while.  As  Miss  W.  was  talking  to  me  very  kindty,  I 
was  so  reckless  as  to  disobey  my  best  impulse.  I felt 
an  impatient  feeling  in  my  heart  which  made  me  wring 
my  poor  teacher’s  delicate  hand.  At  last  she  left  me 
alone.  I took  my  work  to  occupy  myself.  I meditated 


312 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


upon  Christ  who  accomplished  much  good  for  every 
one.  I now  owned  that  I had  done  wrong.  At  length 
I went  to  W.  & kissed  her,  for  her  to  know  how  sad 
I felt ; I assured  her  that  I would  exert  myself  to  culti- 
vate patience,  & not  have  such  bad  feelings  in  the 
future.  She  was  very  kind  to  soothe  me.  I finished 
the  basket,  & then  she  taught  me  two  lessons  as 
usual.” 

She  knew  that  her  journal  was  read  by  Dr. 
Howe,  but  although  always  ambitious  to  appear 
well  to  him,  and  to  do  nothing  to  incur  his  disap- 
probation, she  does  not  accompany  this  simple 
story  of  her  fault  by  one  word  of  extenuation. 
In  this  she  was  certainly  superior  to  most  children. 

At  this  time  a little  girl  totally  deaf  and  par- 
tially blind  was  a member  of  the  school,  and  as 
much  of  her  instruction  was  given  by  the  finger 
alphabet,  it  was  thought  that  it  might  be  well  for 
Laura  to  have  an  opportunity  to  help  some  one,  and 
so  she  was  appointed  her  teacher  for  an  hour  a 
day.  How  she  performed  the  duties  of  her  new 
office  will  be  seen  from  her  own  reports. 

•“  Jan.  19.  I instructed  Lizzie  a lesson  from  arith- 
metic with  much  pleasure.  It  seemed  very  funny  and 
queer  that  I could  teach  a pupil  so  successfully.” 

This  was  probably  her  first  lesson.  One  day 
she  wrote,  — 

“ When  I was  teaching  her  very  earnestly,  she  men- 
tioned that  she  wished  to  have  sport  so  much,  but  I 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


313 


insisted  upon  her  studying  till  the  recess  arrived.  She 
conversed  with  me  about  her  comical  dreams  of  Mis9 
W.  & I & her  mother.” 

Again,  — 

“ As  I spoke  to  my  favorite  pupil  she  would  not 
reply  to  me,  for  she  did  not  have  a pleasant  feeling  in 
her  own  heart.  It  appeared  to  me  that  she  did  not 
feel  inclined  to  have  her  lesson  at  first,  but  in  a little 
time  she  was  evidently  willing  to  recite  her  lesson  to 
me.” 

Another  entry  is,  — 

“ At  twelve  I instructed  my  dear  pupil.  As  I ap- 
proached her,  she  denoted  a very  sweet  and  earnest 
expression  upon  her  countenance  to  me,  and  it  grati- 
fied my  heart  much.” 

Still  another  is,  — 

“ As  I approached  my  little  pupil  she  did  not  feel  in- 
clined to  be  studious  and  diligent.  I taught  her  about 
England  for  a while.  When  I mentioned  to  her  that 
Miss  W.  considered  that  it  would  be  the  best  plan  for 
me  to  teach  her  a lesson  in  arithmetic,  she  said  eagerly 
that  I had  promised  to  teach  her  geography.  Lizzy 
was  discontented  & disappointed  that  I delayed  teaching 
her  geography.” 

Her  journal  entry  for  Feb.  25  is  copied  entire. 
It  is  the  only  time  in  which  she  speaks  of  her  pri- 
vate devotions. 

“ Maria  came  & entered  to  call  me.  As  soon  as  I 
rose,  I delayed  the  shower-bath,  for  the  room  seemed 


314 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


excessively  cold  so  that  I felt  a little  apprehensive  of 
being  frozen.  After  I was  thoroughly  dressed  I came 
into  our  tranquil  parlour  before  I took  my  prayer.  I 
took  the  precaution  of  locking  the  door,  so  that  no  one 
could  come  in  to  annoy  me  during  my  prayer.  I knelt 
down  by  a chair  to  pray  to  God.  I recited  my  lessons 
very  diligently.  At  ten  I taught  my  favorite  pupil 
Lizzy  a lesson  in  arithmetic,  she  appeared  much  more 
attentive  and  studious  than  usual  in  my  opinion.  After 
her  lesson  I communicated  to  her  about  my  heavenly 
Father,  with  much  pleasure  and  anxiety.  She  loved 
to  make  many  inquiries  of  me  about  him.  I have  had 
a very  pleasant  meditation.  I thought  much  about  God 
constantly  ; that  when  I do  a sin  in  the  least,  my  heav- 
enly Father  is  tormented  & disapproves  of  me,  & likewise 
rebukes  me  for  doing  an  error.  When  I am  doing 
any  thing  wrong  he  remonstrate  (s)  or  warn (s)  with  me. 
When  I think  of  him  I feel  as  though  that  he  would 
forgive  me,  & send  me  a pure  loving  heart  and  happi- 
ness ; then  I feel  reverent,  & love  him.  When  I am 
released  from  my  body,  I should  be  much  happier  to  be 
with  God  forever,  than  on  earth.  I should  love  to  see 
his  best  son  Christ  with  him  incessantly.  I shall  be 
much  wiser  and  better  when  I die,  than  I am  in  the 
world.  When  I think  of  him,  it  causes  me  to  have 
much  happiness,  & love,  & to  have  the  best  of  feelings, 
and  reflections,  & impulses,  & qualities,  & to  do  the 
duty  of  my  heavenly  Father.” 

She  reports  insubordination  of  her  pupil  and 
its  punishment. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


315 


u March  1.  I taught  Lizzy  a lesson  at  ten  o’clock. 
She  studied  very  industriously  for  a while.  She  then 
became  so  sportive  that  I was  compelled  to  defer  my 
instruction.  As  I assured  Miss  W.  that  L.  said  that 
she  should  not  study,  Miss  W.  considered  that  L.  had 
better  sit  silently,  for  she  was  not  faithful  and  innocent. 
I was  obliged  to  read  in  my  book  by  myself.  I was 
very  sorry  to  deprive  L.  of  her  long  lesson.” 

The  unceasing  care  and  attention  bestowed  on 
Laura  had  so  prostrated  Miss  Wight  that  she  was 
obliged  to  leave  her  for  a rest  of  some  weeks.  In 
her  entry  May  11,  Laura  writes  a very  tender  and 
loving  tribute  to  her. 

“ I thought  if  W.  had  a whole  vacation  as  regularly  as 
the  (other)  teachers  & their  pupils  do,  then  she  would 
regain  her  health  & strength,  so  that  she  could  have  such 
a good  resolution  to  instruct  me  much.  I am  sorry  & 
anxious  that  she  should  have  a vacation  every  time  the 
other  people  do.  It  is  likely  that  she  would  have  en- 
joyed her  instruction  much  afterwards.  I do  not  trust 
(suppose)  that  she  would  have  so  perfect  health,  & so 
much  strength  as  myself,  for  it  is  very  unnatural  to  her. 
She  can  be  very  calm  & cheerful  instead  of  manifest- 
ing her  activity  & gajTety : but  I cannot  tell  how  she 
looks  in  her  sweet  countenance.  I wish  I could  discern 
her  expression.  I am  willing  that  she  should  be  sedate 
& much  less  emphatic,  but  I love  to  caress  her  very 
much  indeed.  My  heavenly  Father  was  so  very  kind  to 
give  me  such  a nice,  beautiful  friend,  who  has  a very 
warm,  affectionate,  loving,  humble,  sociable,  sympa* 


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LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thizing  heart.  I should  love  to  have  her  visit  me  as 
frequentfy  as  she  could,  when  we  are  separated  from  each 
other.” 

She  writes,  — 

July  10.  “I  made  many  inquiries  of  W.  about  the 
Lord  and  his  only  beloved  Son.  I cannot  be  as  perfect 
as  the  Lord,  because  it  is  impossible  for  anybody  to  imi- 
tate (equal?)  him.  I should  be  the  happiest  if  I could 
strive  to  do  as  much  good  to  every  one  as  possible,  when 
I am  20ty  years  old.  I am  extremely  hopeful  that  my 
heart  or  mind  will  retain  much  love,  & benevolence,  & 
confidence,  & faith,  as  long  as  I live.  I should  feel  in 
my  own  heart  that  God  was  pleased  to  see  how  much  T 
could  strive  to  do  the  volition  of  him.  I fear  that  I 
could  not  bear  so  much,  when  any  one  should  be  much 
vexed  or  irritable  to  me.  How  could  I make  them  feel 
better  and  happier  ? I should  make  an  effort  to  comfort 
them  by  my  patience  & smiles.  If  they  would  not 
submit  to  follow  my  best  example,  or  appreciate  my 
character  (intentions)  for  some  time,  I should  not 
know  what  I could  do.  How  could  I acquire  the  art  of 
making  them  cultivate  their  humility  & patience  ? It  is 
very  likely  that  they  might  cultivate  them  by  seeing  how 
patient  & smiling  I should  be.  I hope  that  I shall 
not  be  likely  to  find  any  one  who  is  unkind,  & too  hard- 
hearted and  prejudiced  against  me.  I could  not  utter 
(speak)  to  them  or  talk  with  them  with  my  own  fingers. 
I could  not  teach  any  ignorant  people  about  goodness 
& love  & humility,  &c. 

“ Aug.  3.  Miss  W.  ceased  to  instruct  me  at  quarter 
past  2 o’clock  because  I hit  her  face  & also  pinched  her 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


317 


thumb  backward.  I was  a very  wrong  and  unjust 
scholar  to  hurt  her  so  much.  I did  not  obey  my  best 
impulse,  which  was  so  very  good  not  to  allow  me  to  do 
two  wrong  things  I was  exceedingly  abashed,  & guilty 
in  my  own  heart.  I felt  that  God  had  inflicted  a great 
punishment  upon  me.  It  made  me  feel  much  ashamed  & 
alarmed.  I was  afraid  because  I was  so  very  (wrong)  to 
disregard  God,  who  was  much  displeased  to  see  my  bad 
feelings.  He  was  very  angry  to  see  me  do  very  wrong. 
My  conscience  was  very  great  and  strong ; it  kept 
reproaching  me  for  many  hours.  I have  been  thinking 
much  of  God  who  was  right  & merciful  to  punish  me 
for  doing  wrong.  My  poor  heart  was  overwhelmed 
& tormented  all  day.  When  I repented  much,  my 
heart  felt  that  God  would  forgive  me  much  more  than 
Miss  W.  could.  I am  very  hopeful  that  I shall  not  be 
likely  to  do  her  any  harm  so  long  as  she  is  with  me.  I 
am  so  much  ashamed  & sad  that  I should  do  very  wrong 
in  the  sight  of  W.  She  cannot  trust  me  that  I shall 
strive  to  cultivate  patience  & love  as  long  as  I live.  I 
did  not  mean  to  hurt  my  lovely  teacher  so  many  times 
while  I was  her  scholar.  God  can  do  me  much  good 
himself.  He  can  forgive  me  more  than  any  one.” 

A day  or  two  later  she  writes,  — 

u I have  been  thinking  about  our  only  creator,  who 
made  the  earth,  sun,  animals,  fruits,  &c.,  which  are  very 
wonderful  to  us  all.  I am  very  glad  that  my  mind  was 
made  to  live  forever  in  heaven  with  God.  Why  was  it 
not  made  to  die  as  the  body  ? 

“Aug.  7.  I have  been  thinking  of  God  & Christ 
this  p.  m.  I am  highly  delighted  that  God  sent  Christ 


318 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


to  reside  on  the  earth,  so  that  he  might  communicate 
many  things  to  all  the  people.  He  was  very  religious 
to  command  the  people  to  do  right,  & to  do  so  much 
good  to  all.  I cannot  realize  that  Christ  lived  on  the 
earth  to  do  the  will  of  God  I shall  have  reverence 
toward  God,  if  I think  as  much  as  it  is  possible  of  him. 
I feel  in  my  own  heart  that  he  is  coming  to  see  me  from 
heaven,  when  I am  thinking  so  earnestly  of  him.  It 
helps  my  heart  to  have  much  love  & respect  for  him.  I 
hope  to  love  & respect  him  the  more  & more  as  long  as 
my  life.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  appreciate  his 
character  & his  only  beloved  son.  I love  to  think  of 
hi*n  so  very  much  better  than  anything  else.  I am 
extremely  glad  to  know  that  he  cannot  forsake  me,  & 
that  he  can  love  me  much  more  than  I can  love  him.  I 
ought  to  be  very  grateful  to  him  who  is  so  kind  to 
chastise  me  for  a sin,  for  he  loves  to  do  me  good.  I can- 
not conceive  how  much  merc}^  & love,  & kindness  he 
has,  because  he  is  so  very  perfect. 

“ Aug.  11.  There  is  a very  poor  woman  who  has 
lost  her  husband.  She  has  four  or  five  children.  They 
are  not  all  very  well.  Her  husband  was  working 
beneath  the  earth  a few  weeks ; who  (he)  was  terribly 
hurt  by  the  falling  of  the  earth.  The  earth  broke  very 
suddenly,  that  hurt  some  of  the  laborers  exceedingly 
indeed.  I have  much  compassion  upon  the  poor  woman 
and  her  children.  I am  fearful  that  they  have  a scanty 
food  or  clothes.  I rejoice  much  that  it  is  so  very  warm 
that  they  do  not  need  much  clothing.  I say  to  myself, 
if  it  was  a cold  season  then  the  poor  family  would  have 
suffered  very  much  from  the  cold  & storm.  How  could 
the  woman  procure  some  wood  to  make  a large  fire. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


319 


& a plenty  of  new  clothes  to  protect  her  children  from 
the  cold?  I suppose  that  some  benevolent  people 
would  be  very  charming  & bountiful,  to  give  the  poor 
so  many  necessaries  as  they  could.  I am  grateful  & 
happy  that  we  have  such  quantity  of  food,  & a great 
supply  of  clothes  here.  My  heavenly  Father  is  the 
most  benevolent  of  any  one  in  the  world,  who  bestows 
everything  upon  us  continually.  I cannot  conceive  how 
very  benevolent  & kind  he  is,  in  my  life.’’ 

Occasionally  she  indulged  in  pleasant  anticipa- 
tions both  for  herself  and  her  teacher.  Aug.  23 
she  writes,  — 

“ This  p.  m.  I have  been  thinking  about  Miss  Wight 
& her  little  nice  house.  I shall  be  very  hopeful  that 
she  will  have  a very  nice  house  in  her  life.  I cannot 
imagine  who  can  console  her  whilst  she  dwells  in  her 
tiny  house.  If  I should  fulfil  my  promise  in  residing 
with  her,  I could  give  her  all  my  aid.  I could  help  her 
wash  & wipe  & put  away  all  her  dishes  so  very  nicely. 
I could  sweep  my  little  chamber,  & dust  & fix  it  very 
nicely  every  day.  I should  love  to  assist  her  to  select 
all  the  necessaries,  much  light  furnishture,  & many  nice 
delicate  dishes.  She  would  have  some  small  cups  for 
the  very  best.” 

Another  day  her  anticipations  are  not  so  bright ; 
she  writes,  — 

‘ 4 Who  could  have  all  of  my  precious  things  when  I 
die  ? I may  probably  have  many  new  friends  as  long 
as  I live.  I hope  that  they  would  endear  themselves 
to  me  by  love,  kindness  & benevolence.  I cannot 


320 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


imagine  bow  much  I could  love  & respect  them.  Could 
it  not  be  very  (in)  convenient  for  them  to  make  the 
letters  with  their  fingers  ? Could  they  have  as  much 
time  to  converse  with  me  as  my  old  friends  now? 
Could  I anticipate  much  pleasure,  & that  I should  be 
so  very  sociable  & happy,  & contented,  & loving,  when 
I lose  all  of  my  old  friends  ? I should  really  mourn,  & 
miss  many  of  my  very  dear  old  friends  very  much. 

“ Sept.  7.  I have  been  thinking  about  my  mother  & 
brother  A.  I wish  that  I could  dine  with  them  to-day. 
I could  probably  have  a better  appetite  with  my  dear 
family.  We  should  find  at  mother’s  house  a great  pro- 
fusion of  pies  & pumpkins  & squashes  & baked  sweet 
apples  & other  nice  victuals.” 

Occasionally  she  indulged  in  jokes,  as  in  the 
entry  for  Jan.  19,  1849.  She  says,  — 

“ I think  that  the  rat  ought  to  be  imprisoned  for 
stealing  my  beautiful  apple  the  other  day.  He  ought 
to  have  a conscience  on  purpose  to  reprove  himself  very 
much.  I must  ask  W.  to  please  to  teach  him  about 
doing  right  & wrong  & (being)  honest  in  the  night. 
He  would  love  her  very  much  for  her  good  influence. 
She  must  exert  herself  to  devote  her  time  to  instruct 
the  rat  about  goodness,  etc.” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


321 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

After  the  lapse  of  more  than  a year,  Miss  Wight 
resumes  her  journal,  and  continues  it  at  intervals 
until  near  the  close  of  1849. 

“ Oct.  12 , 1848.  While  Mrs.  F.  was  sitting  with 
us  this  evening  Laura  said  to  her,  4 Your  voice  sounds 
like  a man’s.’  On  being  asked  her  reasons  for  thinking 
so,  she  replied  that  she  saw , putting  her  hand  on  her 
throat.  The  lady  has  a deep  voice.” 

Speaking  of  her  health,  Miss  Wight  says  : — 

44  She  has  a good  appetite  and  is  in  excellent  spirits, 
or  as  she  told  me  to-day,  4 1 have  a hundred  good 
spirits,  but  you  have  only  ten.’ 

44  Nov.  4.  In  giving  her  a lesson  to-day  upon  the 
origin  of  laws  and  government,  and  the  penalties 
attached  by  men  to  the  breaking  of  these  laws,  she 
asked  with  great  earnestness,  4 Why  did  our  Father  make 
men  to  do  wrong  and  to  suffer  so  much  ? ’ 

44  She  says  much  lately  of  being  independent  and 
earning  her  own  living  when  she  leaves  school,  but  the 
thought  of  going  home  to  live  seems  to  have  no  place 
in  her  plans  for  the  future.  She  grows  continually 
more  affectionate,  more  lovely,  and  at  the  same  time  more 
sensitive. 


21 


322 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


“ Nov.  10.  I had  a very  pleasant  conversation  with 
Laura  this  morning.  She  told  me  of  her  prayers  ; how 
calm  and  happy  it  made  her  to  pray.  Her  prayer,  as 
she  repeated  it  to  me,  was  beautiful  from  its  simplicity 
and  fitness.  I wish  I could  recall  her  words,  for  the  form! 
of  expression  was  very  perfect,  but  I could  not  ask  her 
to  repeat  it.  She  asked,  ‘Can  you  realize  that  God  is 
with  us  and  takes  care  of  us  constantly  ? ’ She  spoke 
of  death : ‘ I cannot  imagine  how  my  spirit  can  feel: 
without  my  body.  I do  not  know  why  I should  not 
feel  willing  to  die,  but  I do  not  feel  willing.’  But  not- 
withstanding all  these  misgivings  which  arise  in  her  mind 
occasionally  as  she  thinks  of  the  future,  she  feels  that 
existence  is  a great  blessing.  She  said,  as  often; 
before,  ‘ I am  so  glad  that  I was  created ! ’ Indeed, 
when  in  health  there  is  not  a happier  being  in  existence 
than  she.  She  asked,  ‘ Can  we  conceive  how  great  and 
good  God  is  ? ’ ‘ How  industrious  he  is  ! * she  exclaimed 
when  we  had  been  talking  of  his  goodness  as  mani- 
fested in  the  creation  of  all  things  around  us.  ‘ Did  you 
know  that  my  heart  has  much  more  love  for  everybody 
than  last  year?  I am  very  much  happier.  When  I 
meet  people  and  they  kiss  me  so  hard,  they  are  so  very 
kind  to  me  and  I laugh  and  feel  so  much  more  kind  and 
loving.’  ” 

Under  another  date  she  says  : — 

“Laura  has  become  much  interested  in  Free  Soil 
principles,  and  few  voters  have  made  more  earnest 
inquiries  into  the  character  of  the  candidates  for  the 
Presidency.  It  was  with  difficult}"  that  I convinced  her 
that  a man  might  have  some  good  qualities  even  though 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


323 


he  were  a slave-holder  and  were  willing  to  fight,  and 
indeed,  I doubt  whether  I did  really  succeed.  She 
asked  why  her  father  should  not  be  a slave  as  well  as 
the  negroes.  She  could  see  no  reason  why  one  man 
who  worked  hard  should  not  be  a slave  as  well  as 
another. 

44  Nov.  16.  She  made  a remark  that  made  me  real- 
ize, more  then  ever,  her  privations.  4 I want  to  do 
right,  but  I cannot  hear  with  my  ears  what  everybody 
sa\^s  about  it ; what  they  think  is  right  and  best  to  do.’ 
She  said  this  more  seriously  than  she  usually  speaks  of 
her  own  peculiarities. 

4 4 Reading  in  Laura’s  journal  that  her  heart  was  almost 
broken  by  the  loss  of  a dear  friend  who  had  gone  away, 
I asked  her  if  I should  get  some  glue  to  mend  it.  With 
a half-serious,  half-comic  expression  she  replied,  4 Time 
will  be  the  best  glue.’ 

44  Jan.  29 , 1849.  . This  morning  I read  one'  of  Dr. 
Peabody’s  sermons  to  Laura,  4 We  know  but  in  part.’ 
She  was  much  pleased  that  she  could  understand  it  so 
readily.  She  clasped  the  book  with  delight,  and  said, 
4 1 wish  it  was  mine,  for  it  would  always  fill  my  heart 
with  love  and  goodness.  I am  so  glad  that  Dr.  (Howe) 
took  so  much  trouble  to  find  out  how  to  teach  me  to 
i give  me  the  best  education.  If  I had  studied  all  the  time 
I should  have  made  more  progress.  Why  did  you  not 
| teach  me  when  I was  poor  (thin)  and  had  a cough  ? ’ 

44  April  10.  She  said  to-day,  4 How  glad  I am  that 
, our  minds  are  made  to  go  thousands  of  miles  to  see 
: our  friends  and  be  with  them,  though  they  are  so 
s remote.’  (She  had  just  parted  with  a friend  to  whom 
she  was  much  attached  and  who  was  going  to  reside  in 


324 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


California.)  A few  moments  after  she  asked,  ‘Will 
our  minds  all  be  alike,  when  they  go  to  heaven  away 
from  our  bodies?  I think  they  will  be  exactly  alike. 
How  hard  it  is  to  think  God  has  lived  forever!  If 
we  were  all  alike  we  could  not  know  each  other.  I 
think  we  shall  know  our  friends  and  much  better  than 
we  do  here,  but  I have  not  naturally  much  confidence 
in  God.  Christ  had  the  most  confidence  in  God,  he 
was  willing  to  be  killed.  Do  you  think  he  feels  like 
himself  now  in  heaven  ? Do  we  think  as  much  of  our 
only  Father  as  we  ought  to?  Does  it  not  give  you 
more  love  in  your  heart  to  think  much  of  him?  It 
does  me/ 

“ For  a few  weeks  past  I have  been  often  struck 
with  her  apparent  appreciation  of  unexpressed  thoughts. 
Anything  that  interests  me  deeply  seems  to  suggest  a 
corresponding  train  of  thought  in  her.  It  is  so  often 
the  case  that  I can  scarcely  believe  it  to  be  the  effect 
of  accident  merely.  Her  parting  advice  to  her  friend, 
Mrs.  F.,  was,  ‘ I hope  you  will  be  very  happy  & use- 
ful & loving  & kind  always ; & also  that  you  will 
have  reverence  & respect  for  all  human  beings.  I 
feel  in  my  heart  that  you  will  strive  to  do  your  duty  to 
God,  & it  will  please  him  so  much  to  see  you  doing 
the  most  good  to  all  in  the  world.  I shall  wish  to  hear 
of  your  happiness,  & of  the  country,  etc.,  so  much. 
You  must  think  of  me  & ask  for  my  sympathy  & 
confidence  when  you  are  troubled  and  homesick  in 
mind  & heart.  You  must  not  think  I shall  forget 
you  in  my  life  if  I do  not  write  to  you  frequently/ 

“ April  26.  She  attended  a wedding  for  the  first 
time.  She  conducted  herr*elf  with  the  most  perfect  pro- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


325 


priety  and  expressed  her  good  wishes  very  gracefully, 
giving  as  well  as  receiving  much  pleasure. 

“ This  afternoon  she  alluded  to  the  incident  in  her 
early  childhood  of  throwing  the  cat  into  the  fire.  I 
asked  her  if  she  knew  she  was  doing  wrong  at  the  time. 
She  said,  ‘ Not  till  my  mother  punished  me,  then  I 
knew  it  was  wrong.’  ” 

In  August  she  spent  some  weeks  with  her  dear 
friends  in  Billerica,  and  while  there,  wrote  a long 
letter  to  her  brother  Addison  to  whom  she  was 
much  attached.  She  sympathized  with  him  in  his 
love  of  study,  and  indulged  in  dreams  of  a future 
time  coming  when  she  would  be  able  to  study  with 
him.  She  appreciated  her  superiority  in  age,  and 
occasionally  assumed  the  position  of  adviser. 
She  had  just  heard  that  he  enjoyed  using  a gun 
sometimes. 

The  following  is  a copy  of  the  letter : — 

Billerica,  Aug.  26,  1849. 
My  Dearest  Brother  Addison: 

I wish  you  a very  happy  Sunday.  I came  to  Bil- 
lerica last  Friday,  p.  m.  I was  highly  delighted  to  get 
a kind  note  from  you.  My  little  heart  was  filled  with 
numerous  delightful  emotions.  I did  not  approve  of 
your  killing  the  most  huge  bird.  But  he  was  so 
intensely  cruel  as  to  kill  those  poultry  which  existed 
very  happily.  If  I were  you  I would  hate  to  hurt  any 
living  thing,  because  my  heavenly  father  is  so  infinitely 
kind  & benevolent  as  to  have  all  things  in  order.  1 
am  very  grateful  to  him,  for  he  presented  my  brothers 


326 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


& sisters  & numerous  great  blessings.  God  is  al- 
ways very  much  displeased  to  see  any  one  hurt  birds, 
or  anything  that  lives  very  happily.  I am  positively 
sure  that  it  is  very  wrong  for  you  & John  to  like  to 
hurt  or  kill  the  happy  creatures.  I am  extremely  sad 
that  you  love  such  cruel  fun  so  dearly  in  that  way.  I j 
am  very  sure  you  would  be  much  happier  during  your 
existence  if  you  will  only  not  be  selfish  & cruel  to 
hurt  or  do  any  wrong  thing  in  the  world.  I am  very 
kind  & amiable  in  my  own  heart.  I wish  to  give  you  ! 
some  very  good  instruction  with  all  my  heart.  I love  | 
goodness  very  much.  I wish  you  would  strive  to 
resist  such  temptations  in  hunting  & hurting.  Will 
you  exert  yourself  to  regard  my  great  wishes  ? I do 
not  doubt  in  the  least  it  will  increase  your  happiness  if 
you  would  cultivate  your  benevolence  and  patience  very 
resolutely.  You  must  learn  to  control  your  bad  habits 
entirely.  It  will  strengthen  your  mind  greatly.  Did 
you  ever  feel  unkind  or  unamiable  towards  me  in  your 
heart  while  you  staid  with  me  ? I never  allow  myself 
to  be  vexed  or  impatient  or  unamiable.  I hope  you  will 
always  have  much  love  and  sympathy  for  your  dear  j 
eldest  sister  & all  human  beings.  I do  not  really ; 
censure  you,  but  I wish  to  give  you  very  good  influence 
or  instruction.  I hope  that  you  will  be  so  very  grate- 
ful to  me  for  my  advice. 

God  is  so  infinitely  good  who  sends  us  a very  im- 
mense number  of  beautiful  flowers,  etc.  I had  very 
many  roses,  etc.,  this  summer.  They  were  so  very 
sweet  & elegant,  that  my  desire  was  very  great  to 
fly  & exhibit  them  to  you  all.  I considered  that  ! 
you  would  admire  them  very  much.  I love  beau- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


327 


ties  very  dearly.  I do  not  think  you  love  beauties  & 
goodness.  I am  very  sad  more  frequently  this  year 
than  I used  to  be.  It  is  hard  to  explain  the  causes 
or  cases.  My  mind  seems  rather  weak  and  sad.  I 
like  sympathy  very  much  in  sorrow  and  joys.  Did 
you  have  much  confidence  in  me  that  I would  fulfil  my 
promise  of  writing  jmu  a letter?  I knit  you  a chain 
with  great  pleasure  last  month,  & hope  you  will  like  it. 
Will  you  please  to  wear  it  to  remember  me  very  kindly? 
I recite  seven  or  eight  lessons  to  Miss  Wight  regularly. 
Wight  reads  to  me  in  the  Bible  for  a while.  Then  she 
reads  to  me  from  my  precious  book,  the  title  is  “ The 
King’s  Messengers.”  I have  an  hour  to  study  till  break- 
fast ; at  quarter  of  seven.  I study  Algebra,  Geometry, 
Physiology,  N.  Philosophy,  History.  Last  month  I 
implored  Wight  to  please  to  teach  me  Algebra  & 
Geometry.  She  said  that  it  was  very  difficult  for  me 
to  study  them.  G.  seems  very  difficult  for  me  to  com- 
prehend it  perfectly.  I have  a great  deal  of  persever- 
ance & patience.  I love  to  study  G.  & A.  with  very 
great  zeal  & alacrity  continually.  When  I first  studied 
G.,  Wight  was  very  kind  & patient  to  explain  to  me 
the  meaning  of  all  of  those  things  so  repeatedly  for  a 
week.  I thought  that  it  was  impossible  to  understand 
G.,  but  I rejoice  very  much  to  be  able  to  puzzle  out  at 
last.  You  & I love  studies  so  very  much.  I should 
love  to  come  & study  with  you  much,  alone  sometimes. 
I fear  that  you  would  drive  me  out  of  your  presence. 
For  I think  you  did  not  like  to  sit  & commune  with  me 
in  the  least.  You  used  to  avoid  me  many  times  when 
I wished  to  be  with  you  with  my  heart.  All  of  my 
friends  are  very  sociable  & affectionate  to  me.  It  gives 


328 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


me  great  pleasure  to  see  them  around  me.  I think  you 
like  to  receive  letters  from  me  better  than  to  see  or  talk 
with  me.  ...  I shall  delight  much  to  have  a long 
& full  letter  from  you  as  soon  as  }tou  are  at  leisure  to 
reply  to  my  letter.  I send  my  very  best  love  to  you. 
Do  write  to  me  spry.  I wish  you  a very  sweet  •& 
happy  eve. 

L.  D.  Bridqjaah. 

If  any  one  avoid  her  or  dislike  to  talk  with  her, 
she  notices  it  very  quickly,  but  in  this  respect  hex 
brothers,  when  young,  were  not  unlike  most 
children,  who  instinctively  shrink  from  any  one 
whom  they  perceive  to  have  a natural  defect  or  to 
be  peculiar  in  any  way,  and  she  was  at  home  with 
them  so  little  they  did  not  have  time  to  overcome 
this  feeling. 

In  September  we  find  her  resuming  her  studies. 

44  Sept.  17.  Speaking  of  the  importation  of  tea,  coffee, 
and  spices,  she  asked,  Do  you  think  they  are  impor- 
tant?’ 4 Not  to  me,  I do  not  like  to  use  them.’  Looking, 
very  thoughtful  she  said,  4 But  they  were  made:  why 
were  they  created  if  they  were  not  meant  to  be  used  ? * 
At  another  time  she  inquired  why  her  mother  was  not 
so  fond  of  adorning  her  house  as  I was,  and  said,  4 I am 
more  fond  of  beauties  than  of  anything  else  in  the  world.’ 
4 Except  goodness,’  I suggested.  With  a smile  she 
said,  4 I meant  goodness  was  the  greatest  beauty  of  all.’ 

44  Sept.  18.  She  asked,  4 Do  you  think  we  shall  be 
homesick  when  we  leave  this  earth  as  we  are  when  we 
leave  our  homes  ? ’ 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


329 


“ Sept.  19.  She  was  very  quick  in  algebra  this  morn- 
jig.  There  is  a great  difference  in  her  at  different  times, 
and  without  any  apparent  reason.  One  morning  the 
most  trifling  thing  will  be  a stumbling-block  in  her  way, 
and  the  very  next  day  she  will  seem  to  grasp  a diffi- 
culty of  the  same  nature  with  ease. 

“Nov.  1.  Her  arithmetic  lesson  was  not  very  good. 
From  the  beginning  she  has  disliked  this  study.  I told 
her  that  everything  which  gives  the  mind  strength,  even 
the  study  of  arithmetic,  increases  our  power  to  appre- 
ciate goodness,  and  will  make  our  lives  more  useful  and 
happy.  To  remind  her  of  Jesus  seldom  fails  to  bring 
her  into  a right  frame  of  mind.  After  this  conversa- 
tion, I gave  her  another  question,  which  she  solved  suc- 
cessfully. She  asked  why  she  was  not  naturally  as 
good  as  other  people.  I told  her  we  all  had  faults,  and 
that  I could  see  in  her  many  good  qualities.  She  re- 
plied, ‘ But  you  do  not  know  how  unamiable  I am,  for 
often  when  I try  to  smile,  and  you  think  I am  amiable, 
I have  impatient  feelings  in  my  heart.’  Later  in  the 
day  we  talked  of  the  difference  between  reason  and  in- 
stinct. I told  her  that  reason  could  see  the  connection 
between  cause  and  effect  which  instinct  could  not.  She 
reminded  me  of  the  story  of  the  elephant,  who,  on 
being  pricked  by  a tailor,  filled  his  trunk  with  water 
which  he  discharged  upon  the  tailor.  This  seemed  to 
her  to  show  reason. 

“ Nov.  6.  She  was  very  successful  in  arithmetic, 
and  I asked  how  it  was  she  was  so  bright.  She  said, 
‘ I think  an  angel  came  from  heaven  and  made  my 
mind  more  bright.’ 

“ Nov.  8.  I aura  is  certainly  improving.  She  has 


330 


LAVRA  BRIDGMAN. 


surprised  me  all  day  by  her  quickness  of  apprehension 
and  power  of  application.  She  has  waked  up,  though 
it  can  hardly  be  said  of  such  a mind  as  hers  that  it  is 
ever  asleep ; but  to-day,  as  I was  talking  to  her  about 
active  and  passive  states  of  mind,  she  laughed  , and  said 
she  could  understand  the  difference  very  easily,  for  she 
knew  it  by  experience. 

“ Nov.  10.  Finished  the  reading  of  Jarvis’s  Physiol- 
og}^,  and  now  lay  it  aside  for  a few  months,  as  I have 
found  best  to  do  with  other  books.  After  an  interval 
of  time  she  seems  to  look  at  the  subjects  in  a new  light, 
and  things  once  difficult  become  easy  to  her.” 

With  these  extracts  we  close  the  journal  of 
Miss  Wight. 

We  add  one  more  leaf  from  Laura’s  journal  of 
December,  in  which  she  tells  of  her  plans  for  a 
Christmas  party  : — 

“ I have  had  many  very  pleasant  and  comical  thoughts 
to-day.  I anticipate  having  (an)  extremely  pleasant 
festival  time  on  Christmas.  I should  be  most  delighted 
to  celebrate  the  day.  I would  send  a very  cordial  invi- 
tation to  my  dear  family.  I should  wish  Miss  Wight 
to  assist  me  to  write  many  notes,  for  the  purpose  of 
inviting  them,  two  days  before.  I can  bear  such  exhil- 
aration with  all  my  heart  and  mind.  I must  purchase 
a very  big  and  elegant  Christmas  tree.  I should  be 
very  much  absorbed  in  business.  I could  suspend 
fruits  & very  tiny  baskets  containing  sweetmeats  on  the 
branches  of  the  trees.  I shall  wish  to  promote  the  hap- 
piness of  my  visitors  as  much  as  I could.  I think  that  if 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


331 


one  hundred  of  my  friends  assembled  to  our  new  spa- 
cious parlor,  the  room  would  be  so  very  full  indeed,  & 
the  air  would  be  scanty  or  breathed  up  totally.  I could 
have  a very  big  table  & have  it  set  very  richly.  I 
could  have  all  kinds  of  pies,  & cake,  & fruit  on  the 
table.  Afterward  I should  like  to  make  my  visitors  laugh 
very  heartily  by  my  most  comical  remarks.  I could  ask 
Mr.  P.  to  loan  me  his  musical  box,  that  my  friends 
may  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  very  sweet  & loud  & 
soft  sounds,  as  long  as  they  liked  We  shall  sit  up  till 
eleven  or  twelve  in  the  eve.  How  can  I assign  a plenty 
of  beds  to  them?  I shall  be  impelled  (compelled)  to 
deposit  some  bed  clothes  on  the  floors  for  them  to  repose 
themselves  upon.  One  of  them  might  be  compelled  to 
immerse  into  my  little  bathing  closet.  She  will  be  very 
much  exhausted  from  standing  so  long  a time.  She  will 
be  apt  to  nod  her  head  all  night.  She  would  not  find 
herself  half  so  much  refreshed  in  the  morning,  as  if  she 
had  slept  in  bed.  Some  of  the  friends  will  have  to 
sleep  on  my  shelves.  I should  be  very  sad  to  compel 
them  to  sleep  so  uncomfortably  and  uneasily.  I am 
enjoying  this  castle  in  the  air  very  much.  I am  natu- 
rally very  fond  of  mirthfulness.” 

In  the  above  extract  she  alludes  to  a music  box. 
She  sometimes  had  this  box  loaned  to  her  and  took 
much  pleasure  in  placing  it  in  a chair,  and  then 
putting  her  feet  upon  the  rounds  of  the  chair  so 
that  she  ' could  feel  it  play.’ 

Miss  Wight  continued  to  teach  Laura  until  the 
spring  of  1850.  Five  years  of  uninterrupted 
teaching,  of  a kind  which  drew  most  heavily  upon 


832 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


the  nervous  system,  had  so  prostrated  her  that 
she  was  obliged  to  resign  her  charge.  That  it  was 
a sad  trial  to  both  teacher  and  pupil  need  not  be 
told  after  the  preceding  record. 

Some  months  later  Laura  was  obliged  to  bid  her 
a long  farewell  as  she  sailed  for  a new  home  in 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  to  relinquish  also  the 
bright  hopes  she  had  so  long  cherished  of  helping 
her  take  care  of  " some  nice  little  house,”  and 
living  always  with  her. 

In  Dr.  Howe’s  Eighteenth  Report,  made  Jan- 
uary, 1850,  he  speaks  of  the  position  which  Laura 
held  before  the  world  at  this  time,  as  follows  : — 

“ Her  progress  has  been  a curious  and  an  interesting 
spectacle.  She  has  come  into  human  society  with  a 
sort  of  triumphal  march ; her  course  has  been  a per- 
petual ovation.  Thousands  have  been  watching  her 
with  eager  eyes,  and  applauding  each  successful  step, 
while  she,  all  unconscious  of  their  gaze,  holding  on  to 
the  slender  thread,  and  feeling  her  way  along,  has 
advanced  with  faith  and  courage  towards  those  who 
awaited  her  with  trembling  hope.  Nothing  shows  more 
than  her  case  the  importance  which,  despite  their  useless 
waste  of  human  life  and  human  capacity,  men  really 
attach  to  a human  soul.  They  owe  to  her  something 
for  furnishing  an  opportunity  of  showing  how  much  of 
goodness  there  is  in  them  ; for  surely  the  way  in  which 
she  has  been  regarded  is  creditable  to  humanity.  Per- 
haps there  are  not  three  living  women  whose  names  are 
more  widely  known  than  hers  ; and  there  is  not  one  who 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


333 


has  excited  so  much  sympathy  and  interest.  There 
are  thousands  of  women  in  the  world  who  are  striving 
to  attract  its  notice  and  gain  its  admiration,  some  by 
the  natural  magic  of  beauty  and  grace,  some  by  high 
nobility  of  talent,  some  by  the  low  ?r  nobility  of  rank 
and  title,  some  by  the  vulgar  show  of  wealth  ; but  none 
of  them  has  done  it  so  effectually  as  this  poor  blind,  deaf, 
and  dumb  girl,  by  the  silent  show  of  her  misfortunes, 
and  her  successful  efforts  to  surmount  them. 

“ The  treatment  she  has  received  shows  something 
of  human  progress  too  ; for  the  time  was,  when  a child, 
bereaved  of  senses  as  she  is,  would  have  been  regarded 
as  a monster  and  treated  as  a burden  and  a curse,  even 
among  the  most  civilized  people  of  the  world ; she 
would,  perhaps,  have  been  thrown  into  the  river,  or  ex- 
posed upon  the  mountain  to  wild  beasts.  But  now 
there  are  millions  of  people  by  whom  it  is  recognized  as 
a duty  and  esteemed  as  a privilege  to  protect  and 
cherish  her,  or  any  one  in  like  situation. 

“ There  is  something,  perhaps,  in  the  rarity  of  such 
cases  of  manifold  bereavement,  something  in  the  fact 
that  she  is  the  first  person  who  ever  came  out  of  such  a 
dark  and  silent  prison  to  tell  us  plainly  of  its  condition, 
something  of  pride  in  the  proof  which  she  gives  in 
the  native  power  of  the  human  soul ; but  still,  bating 
all  this,  the  amount  of  tender  sympathy  in  her  misfor- 
tunes and  of  real  interest  in  the  attempt  to  lighten  them, 
which  has  been  shown  by  thousands  of  sensit' ve  hearts, 
is  most  gratifying  to  reflect  upon.” 


334 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

We  depart  from  our  chronological  order  to  re- 
late some  items  of  interest  occurring  during  the 
last  few  years  which  have  not  been  reported  in  the 
journals.  We  shall  be  able  to  give  only  a frag- 
mentary history  of  her  subsequent  life,  no  further 
record  having  been  kept. 

In  the  summer  of  1846,  after  an  absence  of  a 
year,  I returned  to  Boston  to  reside,  and  Laura 
was  made  happy  by  having  another  place  to  visit. 
Nothing  ever  gave  her  more  pleasure  than  to  be 
left  alone  and  allowed  to  examine  things  at  leis- 
ure ; and  having  once  been  led  through  my  house, 
she  required  no  further  assistance  in  her  explora- 
tions, but  was  soon  familiar  not  only  with  the 
rooms,  but  with  closets  and  bureaus.  Her  great 
gentleness  and  delicacy  of  touch  made  it  entirely 
safe  to  trust  her  with  the  most  valued  treasures, 
and  I never  knew  her  to  injure  anything. 

One  day  she  proved  to  me  that  she  knew  more 
about  my  possessions  than  I did  myself.  She 
asked  me  to  give  her  a piece  of  silk  for  some  pur- 
pose, and  when  told  I had  only  a few  pieces  that 
were  like  my  dresses,  and  cruld  not  spare  them, 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


335 


said,  "You  are  mistaken,  in  the  closet  in  the 
third  story  there  is  a box,  and  it  has  Li  it  some 
pieces  that  are  not  like  your  dresses.”  I sent  her 
to  find  them,  and  to  my  surprise  she  was  right. 
Nothing  could  be  misplaced  in  the  house  without 
her  perceiving  it. 

She  was  always  pleased  with  children  and  liked 
to  hold  an  infant  in  her  arms,  and  her  joy  was 
great  when  she  was  told  there  was  a baby  in  our 
house.  She  watched  its  growth  and  development 
with  the  greatest  interest,  and  was  very  happy  to 
bring  a present  of  the  tiniest  shoes  to  be  found. 
In  her  journal  of  Jan.  23,  she  writes  of  baby’s 
first  visit  to  her : " I was  very  pleasantly  detained 
by  visitors.  Mrs.  L.  and  little  Mary  came  to  spend 
the  p.  m.  with  us.  I was  so  highly  delighted  to 
have  such  pleasant  company.  I derived  so  much 
pleasure  from  giving  so  constant  attention  to  my 
cunning  pet.  I led  her  about  the  work  room  and 
our  room.  I loved  to  carry  the  child  in  my  arms 
about  very  much.  I willingly  let  her  hear  my 
musical  box  play  for  a while.  When  I took  it  away 
from  her  it  caused  her  to  cry  instantly,  because 
she  disliked  to  give  the  music  up.  We  went  to 
the  shop  to  put  the  child  on  the  scales  and  to  let 
the  blind  boys  see  her.  I was  very  sorry  to  have 
her  go  home.” 

After  hearing  of  the  death  of  little  Mary,  she 
wrote  in  her  journal : "I  had  a great  many  sad 


336 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


thoughts  in  my  mind  to-day,  my  dear  friend’s  only 
little  daughter  has  died.  I used  to  love  & caress 
her  when  she  was  a very  little  jabe  very  much,  as 
if  she  was  my  own  child.  I u&od  to  call  her  my 
little  pet,  etc.”  She  wrote  the  following  letter 
without  suggestion  from  any  one : — 

Sept.  28,  1849. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  L. : 

I was  very  much  surprised  to  hear  of  the  decease  of 
your  darling  last  Tuesdaj^.  I hoped  she  would  recover 
very  soon.  I trust  that  your  little  Mary  is  much 
happier  at  her  new  home  than  she  was  on  earth.  I am 
very  positive  God  and  His  beloved  Son,  Christ,  will 
educate  your  child  much  better  than  men  could  in  this 
world.  I can  scarcely  realize  that  the  school  is  so 
excessively  beautiful  in  heaven.  I can  sympathize  with 
you  in  your  great  affliction.  I cannot  help  think- 
ing of  your  trouble  and  little  Mary’s  illness.  I know 
very  certainly  that  God  will  promote  her  happiness  for- 
ever. I loved  her  very  dearly,  as  if  she  were  my  own 
daughter.  I shall  miss  her  very  much  every  time  I 
come  to  see  you.  I send  my  best  love  to  jtou  and  a 
kiss.  I am  very  sad  for  you. 

Yours,  L.  B. 

After  Miss  Wight  left,  she  had  no  regular  les- 
sons. Some  of  the  blind  girls  were  asked  to  talk 
with  her  at  certain  hours,  but,  with  the  oversight 
of  the  matron,  she  was  left  to  occupy  her  time  as 
she  liked.  She  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  her  intellectual  development  was  such  that  it 


LAUR^l  BRIDGMAN. 


337 


was  not  considered  necessary  she  should  have  a 
person  entirely  devoted  to  her.  At  one  time 
the  experiment  was  tried  of  employing  a young 
person  about  her  own  age  as  companion,  but 
without  satisfactory  result;  she  preferred  to  be 
alone.  The  books  in  raised  type  were  her  com- 
panions, and  the  Bible  was  her  special  delight. 
She  found  more  time  now  to  devote  to  her  work, 
and  as  there  was  always  a ready  sale  for  everything 
she  could  make,  she  was  stimulated  to  do  even 
more  than  was  best  for  her  health.  She  enjoyed 
visiting  her  old  teachers  and  a few  other  friends, 
with  whom  she  carried  on  a regular  correspond- 
ence. 

She  sympathized  warmly  with  her  friends  in 
affliction,  and  her  letters  written  on  such  occasions 
are  very  touching.  Some  of  these  are  kindly 
loaned  me  for  publication.  The  extracts  are  cop- 
ied as  they  came  from  her  pencil,  save  that  the 
punctuation  is  somewhat  changed  to  make  the 
sense  more  apparent. 

Sunny  Home,  Jan.  25th,  1853. 
My  Dear  Sister,  Miss  Rogers: 

I received  your  most  kind  letter  last  Thursday,  with 
the  greatest  of  pleasure.  ...  I was  so  sadly  & 
violently  surprised  to  hear  of  (the  death  of)  your 
lovely  sister  Mary,  last  Nov.,  the  same  day  of  my 
arrival  from  my  dear  home.  I sympathize  with  you 
very  truly  in  your  greatest  afflictions.  I wish  very 
much  to  console  you.  I rejoice  so  greatly  for  your 
22 


338 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


heart’s  sake  that  Harriet  is  with  you.  She  is  in  E’s 
place  now.  She  will  be  your  own  constant  companion,  I 
hope.  She  will  be  of  such  a great  comfort  to  you  as  the 
sun  (that)  shines.  I did  not  dream  that  you  would  be 
attacked  by  an  other  loss  so  suddenly.  (Alluding  to 
the  death  of  a little  sister  previously.)  I know  of 
course  that  your  darling  Mary  is  much  happier  in  see- 
ing her  own  little  Ella,  at  a new  home  which  belongs  to 
God.  M.  loves  you  so  much  more  than  while  she  dwelt 
on  this  big  world.  Mary  watches  you  much  more,  & 
knows  how  you  feel  in  her  loss.  She  will  however 
smile  upon  you  like  an  Angel. 

God  will  educate  her  with  much  more  love  & 
beauty  & meekness,  than  these  men  (could  do)  who  are 
most  religious  & benevolent  on  the  earth. 

Christ  will  treat  M & E so  very  justly  & with  great- 
est refinement,  & also  will  have  such  a beautiful  influ- 
ence upon  them  both  forever.  M.  is  very  truly  happy 
to  live  with  Ella  & other  friends  You  will  always  miss 
Mary  very  sorrowfully,  but  I delight  so  highly  in  the 
thought  of  her  being  delivered  from  her  sufferings,  by 
God,  who  was  absolutely  merciful  & lovely.  Mary 
used  to  smile  upon  you  very  sweetly  always.  I love 
her  excessively,  as  if  she  were  my  own  Sister.  I can- 
not believe  of  the  idea  that  you  wish  Mary  to  return 
back  for  your  own  comfort  & pleasure.  . . . 

It  was  her  habit,  after  she  was  without  a teacher, 
to  keep  in  her  mind  long  lists  of  words,  and  bring 
tfhem  to  me  for  explanation.  On  the  occasion  of 
her  visits  she  was  jealous  of  every  interruption, 
whether  from  children  or  visitors,  and  often  rec- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


339 


ommended  that  the  former  should  remain  in  the 
nursery,  and  the  laiter  be  told  I was  engaged. 
She  could  not  afford  to  lose  a moment  from  con- 
versation. Those  who  were  now  about  her  at  the 
Institution  had  had  comparatively  little  experi- 
ence in  talking  with  the  fingers ; she  was  always 
patient  with  the  slowest  talker,  yet  it  was  a pleas- 
ure to  her  that  she  could  make  her  fingers  fly  once 
more,  and  be  understood.  She  liked  to  consult 
me  about  her  clothing,  and  in  brief  to  come  as  a 
daughter  to  a mother.  On  one  occasion  I had  led 
her  to  her  chamber  and  bade  her  good  night.  Hear- 
ing her  moving  about  for  an  hour  after,  I went  to 
see  what  she  was  doing.  On  opening  the  door 
cautiously  I saw  that  bed,  chairs,  and  table  were 
covered  with  the  articles  of  a wedding  trousseau 
which  she  had  found  in  the  bureau  drawers.  I 
said  to  her,  " It  is  eleven  o’clock.  Why  have  you 
so  many  clothes  about?”  She  replied,  "I  was 
going  to  ask  you  to-morrow  to  go  with  me  and  buy 
a great  many  yards  of  cotton,  and  I want  you  to 
cut  it  into  many  things.  I do  not  like  the  pat- 
terns I have,  and  I knew  your  nice  things  were  in 
these  drawers,  so  I have  been  trying  them  all  on  ; 
those  that  I like  are  on  the  table,  and  I will  put 
the  others  away.”  It  was  with  difficulty  that  I 
could  answer  her  as  seriously  as  she  felt  the  occa- 
sion required,  but  I promised  to  do  as  she  wished 
the  next  day  if  she  would  go  quickly  to  bed. 


340 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


On  another  occasion  a clergyman  arrived  unex- 
pectedly as  we  were  leaving  the  tea-table.  I left 
Laura  abruptly,  to  prepare  a cup  of  tea  for  him 
before  he  went  to  perform  a Wedding  service,  for 
which  he  had  travelled  some  distance.  When  I 
returned  to  her,  I explained  to  her  the  cause  of  my 
absence,  saying,  "Prof.  P.  has  gone  to  marry  a 
couple.”  She  was  standing,  and  at  once  raised 
herself  on  her  toes,  and  with  a look  of  the  great- 
est disgust  on  her  face,  thrust  out  her  arm  to  its 
full  length,  and  spelled  with  her  fingers  "f-o-o-1.” 
For  an  instant  I was  puzzled  to  find  a reason  for 
such  severe  condemnation  and  unusual  display  of 
feeling,  but  on  thinking  of  my  sentence,  I per- 
ceived that  while  I had  made  use  of  a common 
expression,  it  was  one  with  which,  perhaps,  she 
had  never  met  before,  and  therefore  had  under- 
stood me  that  he  had  come  to  Boston  to  be  mar- 
ried himself,  and  to  a couple  of  wives.  It  was 
not  strange  that  her  sense  of  propriety  should  be 
outraged. 

In  the  summer  of  1852  she  returned  to  her 
father’s  house  in  Hanover  with  the  understanding 
that  this  was  to  be  her  permanent  home.  She  had 
always  enjoyed  her  visits  there,  but  now,  when 
the  novelty  had  worn  off,  she  became  very  lonely, 
and  missed  ^adly  her  old  surroundings.  In  the 
large  family  m which  the  greater  part  of  her  life 
had  been  passed,  there  was  always  some  one 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


341 


with  whom  she  could  have  a social  chat.  She  was 
interested  in  everybody,  and  to  an  incredible 
extent  knew  what  was  passing  about  her.  The 
transition  to  the  quiet  life  of  a small  family  was 
more  than  her  sensitive  nature  could  bear.  In  the 
winter  following  she  lost  all  inclination  for  food, 
but  complained  of  nothing,  and  probably  diet  not 
know  the  cause  of  her  increasing  debility.  At 
last  she  was  confined  to  her  bed,  and  Dr.  Howe 
was  notified  of  her  condition.  He  found  her 
almost  at  death’s  door,  but  with  no  disease  save 
homesickness.  He  sent  a lady  to  bring  her  back 
to  the  Institution,  which  was  accomplished  with 
difficulty,  and  as  she  was  carried  into  her  old  room, 
and  laid  upon  her  bed,  she  looked  as  though  her 
spirit  had  already  fled.  She  began  to  improve 
immediately,  but  required  much  care  for  a long 
time.  For  many  years  she  continued  to  occupy 
the  same  room,  and  was  a happy  member  of  the 
family.  She  went  into  the  school-room  at  certain 
hours,  when  she  could  share  the  instruction  in 
writing,  etc.,  given  to  the  blind  girls. 

She  has  always  manifested  strong  likes  and  dis- 
likes. A pleasing  young  girl  of  sixteen,  who  had 
become  temporarily  blind,  was  carried  to  the 
Institution.  Laura  conceived  a violent  affection 
for  her  which  developed  singularly.  She  ap- 
pointed herself  both  guardian  and  nurse,  and 
refused  to  allow  any  one  else  to  do  anything  for 


342 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


her,  showing  much  jealousy  if  it  was  attempted. 
At  last,  to  make  sure  of  no  interruption,  she  locked 
herself  into  the  room  with  her,  and  for  many  hours 
no  one  could  gain  admittance.  She  is  especially 
attracted  to  those  who  have  a gentle,  timid  nature, 
which  she  discovers  at  once.  Her  ability  to  read 
character  is  very  remarkable,  and  she  is  rarely 
mistaken.  When  it  is  remembered  that  this  is 
done  at  the  fingers’  ends,  it  would  not  be  strange 
if  this  statement  were  received  with  incredulity, 
but  every  one  who  has  known  her  intimately  will 
attest  its  truth.  As  has  been  said,  " She  observes 
the  tones  of  the  finger  language,”  and  these  are  as 
pronounced  to  her  as  those  of  the  voice  are  to  our 
ears.  She  knows  how  different  people  laugh,  and 
often  speaks  of  the  sweet  smile  of  one  and  another. 
It  may  be  thought  that  she  must  be  always  feeling 
of  the  face,  and  thus  make  herself  disagreeable ; 
but  this  is  not  so,  she  rarely  touches  it,  and  yet 
judges  correctly.  There  wras  at  one  time  in  the 
house  a very  gentlemanly  young  man  who  was  not 
blind.  He  was  well  dressed,  and  his  appearance 
did  not  betray  the  deficiency  of  intellect  which 
really  existed.  Laura  had  not  met  him  until  the 
day  he  was  introduced  to  her.  He  could  not  speak 
with  his  fingers,  so  it  was  merely  a shaking  of 
hands  that  passed  between  them.  Instantly  after 
she  dropped  his  hand  she  raised  hers,  letting  the 
fingers  hang  down,  and  said  to  the  person  who 
introduced  her, t?  Is  he  a fool  ? ” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


343 


One  day  she  called  to  see  a friend  to  whom  she 
was  attached  and  met  her  husband  for  the  lirst 
time.  He  was  a man  highly  esteemed,  but  very 
reserved  and  distant  in  manner.  She  shook  hands 
with  him  and  asked,  "Has  he  many  friends?  Is  he 
greatly  beloved  in  his  own  family  ? Is  he  severe  ? ” 

It  was  a cause  of  surprise  to  those  who  wers 
constantly  with  her  that  it  so  often  happened  that 
while  sitting  quietly  at  work,  apparently  absorbed 
by  her  own  thoughts,  she  should  ask  some  question 
directly  bearing  upon  the  subject  of  general  con- 
versation, to  which  no  one  had  given  her  any  clew. 
This  led  to  the  remark,  " Laura  always  knows  our 
thoughts.” 

She  takes  notice  of  dress,  and  likes  to  examine 
it  sufficiently  to  get  an  idea  of  the  pattern,  but 
shows  her  good  taste  by  choosing  for  herself  both 
material  and  style  which  are  appropriate.  She  had 
desired  to  have  a silk  dress,  and  was  much  pleased 
on  receiving  one  from  a friend  on  her  return  from 
Europe,  its  value  being  enhanced  from  the  fact 
that  she  could  speak  of  it  as  her  " dress  from 
Paris.”  This  was  not  because  Paris  is  the  head- 
quarters of  fashion,  but  because  there  was,  to  her 
mind,  something  akin  to  romance  pertaining  to 
everything  she  had  learned  in  geography.  She 
had  wished  also  for  a watch.  This  may  seem  to 
be  a superfluity  for  a deaf  and  dumb  and  blind  per- 
son, but  she  easily  learned  to  tell  the  time,  and 


344 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


enjoyed  using  one  which  was  loaned  to  her,  always 
placing  it  under  her  pillow  at  night,  and  claiming 
that  it  waked  her  at  the  right  time  in  the  morning. 
A few  years  since,  through  the  generosity  of  a 
couple  of  friends,  she  was  presented  with  a watch 
in  a hunter’s  case,  the  crystal  being  removed  that 
she  might  have  more  ready  access  to  the  hands. 
She  has  derived  much  enjoyment  as  well  as  com- 
panionship from  it. 

From  the  fact  of  her  having  been  the  recipient 
of  such  special  care  and  attention  during  all  her 
life,  we  should  hardly  think  her  blameworthy  if 
she  should  be  thoughtless  of  others  and  careful  to 
guard  her  own  interests  ; but  on  the  contrary,  she 
has  an  affectionate  disposition,  and  nothing  has 
delighted  her  more  throughout  her  life  than  to  be 
able  to  assist  a friend  or  to  send  some  comfort  to 
a poor  person.  At  the  time  of  the  famine  in  Ire- 
land her  sympathies  were  much  moved,  and  she 
purchased,  with  the  proceeds  of  her  own  industry, 
a barrel  of  flour,  which  was  sent  to  the  sufferers. 

About  the  year  1855  it  was  suggested  to  Laura 
that  she  write  an  account  of  events  which  she 
could  remember  in  her  life  at  home,  before  she 
came  to  the  Institution.  We  copy  extracts  from 
this  paper,  trusting  that  the  quaintness  of  her  style 
will  give  interest  even  to  a twice-told  tale  : — 

“ I shall  like  very  much  indeed  to  write  the  life  of  my 
childhood.  I can  remember  of  a great  many  circum- 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Ml 


stances  & events  which  occurred  in  my  earliest  days. 
I was  born  in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  the  21st  of  Dec.  1829. 
I had  one  brother  named  Milo,  & two  first  sisters 
Mary  & Frances  Collina.  They  all  left  my  lovely  home, 
& went  to  a spiritual  land  to  live  with  my  heavenly 
Father.  I never  knew  them  except  what  I have  heard 
about  since  then.  Mary  & Frances  were  attacked  by 
the  perilous  fever  scarlet,  which  was  a cause  of  their 
death.  Little  Milo  was  born  with  the  nature  of  great 
weakness  ; he  was  carried  from  his  dear  mother’s  sight 
in  the  arms  of  an  angel,  when  three  months  old. 
. . . I was  two  years  & a few  months  old  when  I 

was  in  the  calamity  of  a raging  fever,  which  was  scar- 
let, I was  very  sorely  ill  for  three  long  weeks.  . . . 

I could  not  take  a morsel  of  bread  or  cracker,  neither 
could  swallow  throughin  my  little  throat  for  a few  long 
weeks,  except  that  I drank  some  very  nourishing  liquid, 
crust  coffee.  I was  not  conveyed  in  one’s  arms  out  of 
doors,  even  for  an  instant,  for  three  or  four  months.  I 
recollect  very  distinctly  how  much  I used  to  lay  (lie) 
in  a nice  old  cradle  on  account  of  the  illness  & weak- 
ness. I liked  to  have  some  one  rock  me  along  in  it 
extremely  continually.  . . . One  day  I was  repos- 

ing my  little  body  in  that  snug  cradle,  a spark  of  coals 
with  fire  flew  very  lightly  upon  my  neck,  & the  flame 
of  fire  spread  to  my  chin  (so)  that  it  rendered  (made) 
both  of  my  neck  & chin  grow  closely,  but  the  inflamma- 
tion went  off,  & it  caused  a scar  on  the  skin.  My  dear 
mother  kept  watching  over  me  in  another  person’s 
lap  on  the  occasion  of  suffering.  I kept  sobbing  very 
hard  unconsciously.  I took  some  sugar  saturated  with 
some  peppermint,  I liked  very  much,  for  a sort  of 


346 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


medicine.  ...  I was  born  in  fragile  health.  1 
was  very  fond  of  all  sorts  of  tricks  in  my  childhood. 
I had  a good  deal  of  distress  with  my  eyes  for  months, 
they  would  not  bear  the  rays  of  light  an  instant,  from 
which  I tried  to  prevent.  I put  up  my  hands  over  my 
ill  eyes,  & rush(ed)  into  a very  snug  bedroom  for  a 
bit  of  darkness.  The  nerve  was  painful  that  effectually 
made  a great  shower  of  tears  in  my  eyes,  which  finally 
gushed  out  at  once.  It  was  from  ignorance  of  the  fact, 
that  I imagined,  that  the  sun  always  shone  beneath, 
through  the  floor  in  my  mother’s  kitchen  upon  which  I 
reflect  with  my  eye,  near  her  right  window.  I was 
perfectly  unwise,  & very  unfortunate  about  the  wisdom 
of  God  & his  beloved  Son  Jesus.  I did  not  have  such 
a doll  at  the  earliest  period  of  my  childhood.  My 
mother  knew  nothing  about  dolls  for  many  long  years. 
I never  had  play-toys  for  amusements,  or  a pleasure 
except  what  I contrived  to  find  in  her  house  for  myself 
to  play.  I had  many  pleasant  times  in  sporting.  I 
could  not  articulate,  or  see,  or  hear.  (Afterwards)  I 
had  a very  funny  doll  made  of  a lot  of  rags,  which 
pleased  me  very  much  indeed,  that  homely  doll  was 
bound  very  nicely  & smoothk  . I had  some  neat 
clothes  for  the  doll  to  dress  in.  I never  gave  the  doll 
a name,  for  I did  not  know  of  tne  fact  that  such  dolls 
could  receive  any  name,  & also,  I was  not  educated 
how  to  use  my  little  fingers.  My  mother  was  not 
capable  of  learning  the  finger  alphabet  for  numer- 
ous long  years.  We  never  had  a dream  of  the  inven- 
tion for  a way  to  spell  a shortest  or  easiest  word  with 
the  fingers  in  the  world.  I used  to  make  some  signs 
for  my  mother,  what  I wished  her  to  know  of,  it  was 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


347 


not  a least  shadow  between  her  and  I,  as  she  could 
comprehend  all  signs  I made.  ...  I had  a small 
thin  plate  for  my  own,  it  was  a gift  from  an  old  man 
named  Mr.  Asa  Tenny  whom  I always  loved  & 
respected  so  greatly,  my  first  and  old  benefactor.  The 
nice  tin  plate  has  the  finger  alphabet  printed  in  raised 
letters  around  on  the  edge.  I occupied  my  plate  at  the 
table  frequently.  I could  not  have  practised  in  reading 
the  blind  (raised)  letters  with  my  fingers  for  various 
reasons,  until  I was  brought  up  to  an  education,  when 
I was  almost  eight  years  old.  , . Mr.  Tenny  was 

always  very  patient  and  kind  and  gentle  to  me.  He 
used  to  stroke  my  face  with  his  finger  for  caress,  & also 
let  me  know  him.  He  had  a most  original  manner  of 
taking  hold  of  my  arms  before  I could  have  touched  his 
hands  & recognized  him.  As  I felt  his  hat  upon  his 
head,  I knew  him  instantly  always.  The  hat  was  very 
common,  so  plain  & sleek  & durable,  it  seems  to  have 
felt  to  my  fingers  like  a piece  of  paste  board.  Mr.  T. 
always  dressed  in  most  simple  & refugal  (frugal) 
clothes.  I had  two  little  chairs,  one  of  those  chairs  had 
rockers  & they  both  had  arms.  I sat  in  them  a good 
deal  which  I enjoyed  exceedingly.  ...  I derived 
a great  pleasure  from  walking  & rambling  & sporting 
with  Mr.  T.  daily.  He  used  to  go  with  me  out  of  the 
doors  in  search  of  eggs  very  frequently.  I liked  so 
much  to  grope  in  hollowed  nests  with  my  little  hands, 
seeking  for  a single  egg.  Mr.  T.  commanded  me  not 
to  rob  the  poor  hen  of  her  very  last  egg,  by  a gesture 
which  I understood  so  clearly,  but  I did  not  know  the 
reason  why  he  left  one  egg  remaining  undisturbed  in 
the  position.  He  influenced  me  with  something  like 


348 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


geography,  which  was,  that  I Hinged  sand,  stones  & 
gravels  & branches  of  aged  trees  into  the  brook.  I 
enjoyed  that  game  extremely.  He  would  conduct  me 
to  call  on  his  friends  as  often  as  was  his  conven- 
ience, or  my  mother  approved  of  my  going  with  him. 
He  was  my  first  benefactor  on  this  earth.  He  was  stout 
& firm  to  lift  me  up  in  his  big  arms  a long  distance 
from  place  to  place.  I admired  very  much  to  be 
carried  in  his  arms  like  a babe.  We  went  out  to  pluck 
lots  of  different  berries  at  an}^  rate  (to  any  amount?) 
that  we  pleased.  I was  always  disposed  to  subsist  on 
them,  mixed  with  most  luxurious  milk  & white  or 
brown-bread  or  crackers.  Mr.  T.  never  liked  to  scold 
me  for  doing  a little  thing  which  was  really  wrong 
according  to  his  opinion.  He  never  inflict (ed)  a pun- 
ishment upon  me  in  his  life.” 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


349 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

In'  1855  she  made  the  acquaintance  of  Katie 
Hill,  a blind  girl  who  had  just  arrived  from  Ger- 
many, and  had  become  a member  of  the  school. 
She  was  especially  attracted  to  her  because,  in  her 
early  years,  she  had  been  much  attached  to  the 
wife  and  children  of  our  German  music-teacher. 
They  had  returned  to  the  Fatherland,  and  this 
girl  was  a*t  once  received  with  affection  for  their 
sake. 

At  this  time  Laura  was  in  the  habit  of  convers 
mg  with  the  blind  girls  freely,  and  very  soon  taught 
her  the  finger  alphabet.  Katie  had  had  little 
opportunity  for  acquiring  knowledge  of  books,  not 
having  been  at  any  school  for  the  blind,  but  she 
had  learned  to  love  the  Saviour,  and  "had  done,” 
as  she  expressed  it,  "some  missionary  work.”  In 
conversing  with  Laura  it  was  very  natural  to  her 
to  talk  of  Christ,  and  the  ideas  which  she  gave 
her  were  different  from  any  she  had  previously 
received.  In  her  visits  to  me  she  talked  much 
about  her  "new  sister  Katie,”  and  told  me  of  what 
she  was  learning  from  her.  She  wrote  a very 
interesting  letter  to  her  old  friend  Mrs.  H.  in 


350 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


Germany,  telling  her  how  much  she  loved  her  new 
German  friend  and  of  what  she  had  taught  her. 
Unfortunately  this  letter,  which  she  brought  to 
me  to  forward,  was  not  copied,  and  the  original 
has  not  been  preserved,  but  several  persons  to 
whom  it  was  read  by  me,  remember  it  distinctly 
as  a very  remarkable  letter. 

In  her  occasional  visits  to  me  she  always  spoke 
freely  of  her  interest  in  reading  the  Bible,  but  the 
great  Teacher  led  her  to  an  appropriation  of  its 
truths  through  deep  sorrow. 

In  1860  she  heard  of  the  sudden  death  of  her 
eldest  sister.  I did  not  see  her  at  this  time,  and 
know  of  her  experience  only  through  others. 
There  seems  to  have  arisen  first  a spirit  of  rebel- 
lion against  God,  and  she  continued  for  months  to 
cherish  bitter  feelings,  and  to  shun  conversation 
on  religious  topics,  which  had  previously  been 
her  delight.  Just  how  long  this  state  of  mind 
lasted  we  have  no  knowledge,  but  the  following 
letter  shows  the  conflict  ended,  and  an  entire 
change  of  feeling : — 

Sunny  Home,  Mar.  10,  61. 

My  very  dear  Miss  Rogers  : 

I am  so  happy  to  devote  a little  time  to  write  you  a 
letter  this  lovely  day.  Behold  what  manner  of  glory  & 
love  & grace  our  holy  God  hath  bestowed  upon  us. 
We  can  appreciate  his  kindness.  Let  us  thank  him  for 
whatsoever  he  gives  us  with  all  our  hearts.  May  the 


LAURA  BRID1MAN. 


351 


Lord  be  with  you  forever  & ever.  Grace  be  with  you. 
Amen. 

This  is  a prayer  for  my  true  friend  from  me.  1 «,m 
better  this  morn.  I have  not  been  well  much  of  the 
time  this  Winter  & in  the  Fall  But  I am  much  hap- 
pier in  mind  concerning  God  & his  begotten  Son,  Jesus 
Christ.  I profess  religion  since  last  spring  mcst  fer- 
vently. I devote  a great  deal  of  my  time  to  studying 
the  sacred  Bible.  I rejoice  so  highly  that  God  has 
helped  me  how  to  comprehend  his  works  in  many  ways. 
I can  not  comprehend  some  of  his  works,  but  a part  of 
his  gracious  work.  I read  in  the  blessed  Bible  daily, 
which  I prize  the  most  of  all  books  in  this  world.  My 
spirit  is  much  stronger  than  my  bodily  strength.  . . . 
I wish  much  to  meet  you  once  more.  I would  be  so 
joyful  to  pass  many  long  weeks  with  you.  Please  to 
let  me  know  about  your  leisure  for  a visit  from  your  old 
pupil  L.  B. 

I am  in  such  raptures  on  account  af  my  chosen  friend 
Wight,  who  is  expected  home  in  July  with  her  family. 
Miss  M.  saw  Mr.  Wight  in  town  last  week ; he  pro- 
posed to  her  that  I should  go  to  Wayland  & visit  Mrs. 
Bond  as  soon  as  she  recruited  her  rest.  He  longs  foi 
her.  Yours  truly. 

L.  Bridgman. 

Her  old  teacher,  Miss  Wight  (Mrs.  Bond), 
returned  from  the  Sandwich  Islands  with  her  fam- 
ily in  1861,  after  an  absence  of  five  years.  Laura 
was  not  told  of  her  arrival,  but  was  summoned 
from  the  dinner-table  to  see  a friend.  She  shook 
hands  with  her,  not  recognizing  her  for  an  instant, 


352 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


but  the  next  moment  she  sprang  from  the  floor  in 
her  delight,  and  fell  nearly  fainting  into  her  arms. 

During  a visit  to  Hanover  in  the  summer  of 
1863,  she  was  baptized  and  received  to  member- 
ship in  the  Baptist  Church,  with  which  her  parents 
were  connected.  Later  in  the  year,  while  visiting 
her  friends  in  Billerica,  she  talked  much  about  her 
recent  baptism,  and  was  asked  to  write  an  account 
of  it.  She  complied  with  this  request,  prefacing 
it  with  an  account  of  her  feelings  on  the  death  of 
her  sister. 


My  very  dear  Friend: 


Jan.  8,  1864. 


I am  most  happy  to  have  the  utmost  pleasure  to 
write  you  a sketch  concerning  n^self. 

One  Sabbath  day  of  February  4th  long  years  ago 
(1860),  I heard  from  my  old  homestead  by  the  interpre- 
- tation  of  my  dear  friend,  Miss  Moulton.  She  received  a 
letter  concerning  my  oldest  sister  Mary  from  my  dear 
mother.  As  Miss  Moulton  had  reported  a fate  of  death 
of  my  precious  sister  Mary,  I burst  into  a bad  cry,  my 
heart  ached  so  painfully ; it  was  broken  with  a great 
crush.  Many  tears  rushed  with  a heayy  shower  from 
my  eyes.  I could  hardly  spell  a word  with  my  fingers 
for  many  hours.  My  soul  was  cumbered  and  cast 
down.  In  spirit  I was  unable  to  bear  such  vast  affiic- 
tions,  it  was  the  great  torment  of  my  heart,  wnich 
caused  me  a great  trial,  to  suffer  the  loss  of  my  aear 
sister  Mary.  Miss  Moulton  was  so  kind  & attentive  to 
me  in  such  distressing  pain  & sorrow  in  spirit.  She 
took  me  with  all  her  strength  from  her  sitting  room  up 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN . 


353 


to  my  cozy  room.  It  was  hard  for  me  to  guide  myself 
alone,  fori  trembled  of  great  agitation  and  pain,  but  the 
Lord  was  good  & merciful,  & a firm  staff  to  my  comfort. 
He  was  my  gracious  and  holy  guide.  I was  not  a Chris- 
tian at  that  time.  Miss  Moulton  put  me  on  my  cozy  bed, 
and  did  so  much  for  my  comfort.  She  wiped  the  tears 
from  my  face,  though  they  ran  so  freely  from  my  eyes. 
...  I had  a very  sorrowful  Sunday,  contemplating  the 
piosoect  of  death  of  my  dear  sister  Mary  all  the  day 
long.  I was  indisposed  to  relish  my  meals,  on  account 
of  the  ?.dea  ot  my  suffering  sorrow  & affliction  for  weeks. 
It  seems  as  if  there  could  never  be  peace  or  hap- 
piness in  the  vast  world,  that  I might  obtain  to  my 
soul  for  a great  while.  I did  not  feel  reconciliation  to 
my  Heavenly  Father  or  his  blest  son  Jesus,  whose 
grace,  & mercy,  & love  (was  shown)  in  calling  Mary 
forth  unto  a land  of  bliss  & glory,  I loved  my  sister  so 
dearly.  I could  not  trust  in  God  and  Jesus,  as  much 
as  I do  now.  I dwelt  in  a condition  of  unhappiness  & 
despair,  many  weeks..  My  head  was  laid  upon  a pillow 
of  grief  and  lamentation  many  nights.  My  slumber  was 
brittle  and  frail,  as  my  head  was  heavy  laden  with  vari- 
ous notions  concerning  my  loved  Mary.  I wrote  a let- 
ter to  my  poor  mother  consoling  her  in  her  anguish,  etc. 
While  I wrote  it  my  tears  gently  rolled  from  my  eyes, 
& my  heart  ached  sadly.  Miss  Moulton  came  to  com- 
fort my  broken  heart,  by  repeating  some  verses  of 
the  fourteenth  chapter  of  John,  one  Sabbath  in  April, 
after  the  death  of  Mary.  I began  to  review  a (the) 
subject  of  my  Saviour  Jesus  & baptism.  I aid  not  feel 
inclined  to  ask  my  mamma  any  questions  concerning 
baptism.  I only  asked  mother,  how  a person  was  bap- 
23 


354 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


tized  with  water.  In  May,  it  came  to  pass  that  I thought 
more  and  more  of  my  Redeemer  & baptism.  I abode 
with  my  mother  a month  in  a new  house,  and  then  I 
departed  from  my  poor  mother.  My  dear  brother  John 
escorted  me  to  Thetford,  Vt.  I staid  with  my  dear 
cousin  Emily  for  more  than  three  months.  I attained 
much  enjoyment  of  conversing  with  my  cousin  about 
such  sacred  things.  I thought  how  delightful  it  might 
have  been  to  my  soul  if  I could  be  baptized  in  the  pure 
water  by  the  minister  who  usually  preached  the  Holy 
Ghost  to  the  blest  church  in  Thetford,  Vt.  But  my 
dear  God  did  not  approve  of  my  doing  that  away  from 
my  home.  I felt  fearful  at  times  from  these  thoughts 
concerning  the  performance  of  baptism.  I thought  that 
there  was  danger  of  sinking  my  head  bf  neath  the  water, 
& I might  be  drowned  in  the  depth  of  water.  I did 
not  feel  strong  and  confident  sufficiently  for  being  in  a 
grave.  In  June  three  years  ago  (1860),  on  my  abode 
with  cousin  Emily  I was  permitted  to  meet  a certain 
woman  by  the  loving  kindness  of  my  Saviour.  My 
heart  promptly  received  her  in  the  holy  name  of  my 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  opened  my  heart,  & illu- 
mined it  with  his  light.  He  put  his  nature  upon  me  so 
that  I should  leave  all  evil  things,  & love  good  things 
by  the  spirit  of  the  grace  of  Jesus  our  Saviour.  I felt 
so  cold  & impure  in  heart,  I wished  to  run  away  from 
my  cousin,  one  day  when  the  woman  was  present  with 
her.  My  cousin  claimed  (wished)  me  to  remain  with 
her  on  purpose  to  get  acquainted  with  that  beloved  wo- 
man. By  mercy  & love  of  God,  he  ordained  that  pious 
lady  & I to  be  true  friends.  She  is  my  blessed  and 
adopted  grandmother  now.  In  the  fall  I had  much 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


355 


delight  in  a religions  conversation  with  my  dear 
adopted  sister,  & her  husband,  & my  dear  mother. 
One  sunny  p.  m.  in  July  two  years  ago,  I visited  my 
adopted  sister  Mrs.  H.  We  had  a very  solemn  happi- 
ness with  a talk  in  the  library  with  Mr.  H. , a most  excel- 
lent minister.  We  transacted  some  business  concerning 
the  sacred  ordinance.  My  sister  Mrs.  Herrick  called 
upon  me  the  first  Saturday  of  July  (1863),  she  inter- 
preted some  sentiments  to  me  for  the  reverend.  Shortly 
after  dinner  I accompanied  my  mother  to  his  house  a 
few  rods  from  my  home.  I had  a happy  call  there, 
till  it  was  time  for  us  all  to  go  to  the  holy  sanctuary, 
to  attribute  prayers  & holy  communion  to  the  Almighty 
Father.  The  holy  church  agreed  to  vote  me  a member. 
The  6th  of  July,  the  first  Sabbath,  my  cousin  Mary 
called  to  see  me  once  or  twice  Sunday.  I went  with  her 
& my  mother  to  Mr.  Herrick’s  house  at  noon.  I was 
so  glad  to  meet  a few  ladies  there,  I was  waited  upon 
by  those  ladies  in  preparation  for  baptism.  I could 
hardly  help  myself  undress,  & dress  myself.  Mr.  H. 
welcomed  me  so  gladly  at  his  house.  I was  guided 
to  the  brookside  by  my  mamma  & Mrs.  Huntington. 
Mr.  H.  sent  for  me  one  of  his  chairs  to  sit  by  the  side 
of  the  brook,  while  holy  prayer  was  being  addressed. 
Two  students  sang  a hymn  112.  I believe  that  the 
first  line  of  the  hymn  is 

“ In  all  my  God’s  appointed  ways.” 

I did  not  feel  inclined  to  talk  with  my  fingers  at  the 
blessed  ordinance,  but  I was  so  happy  to  have  my 
mother  or  any  person  speak  to  me.  My  soul  was  over- 
whelmed with  spiritual  joy  and  light  in  the  presence  of 
God  and  his  blest  son  Jesus  Christ.  I could  hardly 


356 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


smile,  for  I felt  solemnly  happy.  I could  reflect  (upon) 
the  victor}"  of  God  & my  Saviour.  Therefore  a glo- 
rious light  shone  in  my  head.  My  soul  was  cast 
into  the  hand  of  my  dear  Saviour  by  faith.  As  Mr. 
H.  took  me  by  the  hand  crossing  the  pure  water,  I felt 
a thrill  of  crying  for  joy,  though  not  one  drop  of  a tear 
fell  in  sight  from  my  eyes.  I acknowledged  the  hand  of 
my  God  was  laid  upon  my  trembling  soul,  also  how 
merciful  & loving  he  was  within  me.  I did  not  have 
any  fear  nor  trouble  in  the  least,  because  my  trust  & 
hope  were  in  my  Redeemer.  My  dear  father  & a gentle- 
man aided  me  up  out  of  the  water,  & I sat  in  the  chair 
with  the  wet  clothes,  on  utterance  of  another  prayer. 
I went  to  church  & the  holy  communion.  Mr.  H.  gave 
me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  in  God.  It  was  a most 
glorious  & pious  Sunday,  ever  more  for  me  to  retain 
(remember).  I have  written  this  for  you,  my  dear 
friends,  Eliza  & Elvira  Rogers. 

After  the  death  of  her  father  and  the  consequent 
breaking  up  of  the  family,  she  had  some  anxious 
thoughts  about  her  future  support,  but  was  relieved 
by  an  arrangement  which  Dr.  Howe  made,  where- 
by a home  in  the  Institution  was  secured  to  her. 
On  my  return  to  this  country,  after  an  absence  of 
two  years  and  a half,  she  wrote  me  the  following 
letter,  expressing  her  gratitude  : — 

Hanover,  Nov.  26,  1871. 
My  Dear  Friend  Mrs.  Lamson: 

I had  a long  letter  from  Miss  R.  two  weeks  since,  & 
2va& highly  delighted  to  hear  about  your  return.  I have 


L AURA  BRIDGMAN. 


357 


planned  for  departing  for  Lebanon  next  Saturday,  to 
visit  my  sisters.  I rejoice  in  the  mercy  of  God  for 
his  kind  providence,  that  a home  at  the  Inst,  is  de- 
signed for  my  abode  as  long  as  I would  like.  Mother 
had  a cordial  & welcome  letter  from  Dr  H.  last  winter. 
I shall  be  entirely  welcome  to  the  Institution,  & devolve 
upon  their  kind  care  & so  it  is  no  pay  for  my  board,  but 
it  is  an  expressive  ( ?)  home  for  me  since  my  dear  father 
is  above  the  heavens.  Next  Tuesday  is  three  years  of 
his  death  in  peace  of  our  Savior,  so  he  has  been  in  a 
glorious  world  three  years  long.  My  home  here  is 
broken  up.  I cannot  enjoy  this  life  so  much.  I wish 
much  to  see  you  & talk  constantly  with  you.  Do  be 
prompt  to  call  on  my  birthday  21st  of  December  or 
sooner.  I long  to  see  you  at  Inst.  I dread  the  cold 
climate  of  N.  H.  Give  my  best  regards  to  Mr.  L.  & 
love  to  the  dear  ones.  God  bless  you.  Believe  me 
y our  ever  loving  friend, 

Laura. 

Until  1876  she  had  lost  by  death  no  one  who 
had  ever  stood  in  the  relation  of  teacher  to  her, 
and  I doubt  if  she  had  ever  thought  that  any  of 
us  might  die  before  herself.  Dr.  Howe  had  foi 
months  been  in  failing  health,  and  she  had  seen 
but  little  of  him  for  a year.  He  had  been  absent 
from  Boston  much  of  the  time,  and  when  at  home 
was  too  weak  to  bear  the  excitement  of  talking 
with  her.  She  was  told  that  he  was  very  ill  and 
that  it  was  feared  he  could  not  *ive.  A few  hours 
before  his  death  it  was  thought  that  it  might  be  a 


358 


LATJRA  BRIDGMAN. 


comfort  to  her  to  visit  him,  and  she  was  led  beside 
the  bed  on  which  he  lay  unconscious.  Very  gently 
she  passed  her  hand  over  his  face  ; her  tears  flowed 
freely,  but  she  did  not  allow  herself  to  make  a 
sound.  She  realized  fully  the  loss  she  was  to  sus- 
tain. For  many  years  of  her  early  life  in  Boston 
she  had  been  a member  of  his  private  family,  and 
had  felt  as  if  she  were  his  child,  and  when  in  later 
years  her  home  was  with  the  blind,  she  had 
daily  expected  his  kind  greeting  and  words  of 
cheer,  and  now,  as  she  took  leave  of  him,  she  knew 
that  she  had  lost  her  best  earthly  friend  and 
greatest  benefactor. 

A few  days  after  she  wrote  to  me  as  follows  : — 

S.  Boston,  Jan.  30,  ’76. 

My  Dear  friend  : 

I am  sitting  in  the  love  of  our  heavenly  Father  who 
is  ever  good  to  bless  us  with  his  sun  to-day.  I am  in 
my  sunny  cosy  room  this  a.  m.  Your  letter  came  to 
me  with  much  welcome  & joy.  There  is  a good  deal 
(of)  comfort  in  much  sunshine,  though  it  tries  my  feel- 
ings in  thought  of  never  meeting  & grasping  my  best 
& noble  friend  Dr.  Howe  on  earth.  The  path  seems 
so  desolate  & void  without  sight  of  him  to  us  all.  But 
Jesus  is  all  & in  all.  He  fills  our  way  with  light  & sun- 
shine. I think  much  of  Dr.  H.  day  & night,  with 
sorrow,  & gratitude,  & love,  & sincerity.  . . . 

Her  health  was  seriously  affected  by  her  sorrow, 
and  when  she  left  us  the  following  summer  to  go 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


359 


to  her  mother,  it  seemed  doubtful  if  she  lived  to 
return. 

Another  sorrow  followed  closely,  in  the  loss  of 
her  beloved  friend  and  teacher,  Miss  Rogers. 
With  characteristic  thoughtfulness  of  others,  she 
requested  me,  on  my  last  visit  to  her,  to  write 
Laura  of  her  extreme  illness,  and  thus  prevent  the 
shock  of  the  sudden  announcement  of  her  death. 
In  my  letter,  which  was  accidentally  delayed  a fort- 
night on  its  way,  I suggested  to  Laura  that  she 
should  send  a last  message  to  her  dear  friend.  She 
wrote  at  once  the  following  letter,  which  was  only 
received  by  her  friend  a few  days  before  her 
decease : — 

Hanover,  June  25,  1876. 

My  very  dear  Miss  Rogers: 

I received  a letter  from  Mrs.  Lamson  yesterday,  but 
it  was  forgotten  since  its  arrival,  several  weeks  ago.  I 
was  at  Lebanon  visiting  my  dear  sisters  for  more  than 
two  weeks  then.  I am  very  sorrowful  for  your  dear 
sisters  and  parents,  who  feel  so  grievously  afflicted  with 
the  idea  of  missing  you  at  the  gracious  calling  of  the 
loving  Father.  You  shall  receive  a crown  of  eternal 
life  from  heaven.  You  will  have  a holy  home  forever. 
Your  sisters  & parents  will  be  comforted  by  the  God  of 
comfort.  God  is  very  gentle  in  all  his  dealings  with 
those  who  love  & hope  & trust  him. 

We  shall  all  meet  in  a glorious  world  where  there  is 
no  sorrow  nor  pain  nor  parting.  I joy  of  meeting  Dr. 
Howe  & my  dear  father  & friends.  My  mother  & I join 
m ardent  love  & sympathy  to  you  & the  family.  I 


360 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN 


should  like  to  have  a little  token  from  you,  for  its  sake 
in  remembrance  of  my  dearly  loved  friend  & teacher. 

Truly  your  loving  friend, 

L.  D.  Bridgman. 

To  a sister  of  Miss  Rogers  she  wrote  the  follow- 
ing letter : — 

S.  Boston,  April  22,  1877. 

My  Dear  Friend  Elvira: 

It  is  a rainy  & languid  morning.  I thank  you  truly 
for  a nice  letter  which  you  wrote  to  me  last  summer. 
You  must  come  to  see  me  shortly,  as  I anticipate  to 
leave  here  first  week  of  June,  & go  to  Troy,  N.  H.,  to 
visit  the  wife  of  my  parents’  old  & excellent  minister 
for  some  weeks.  I ought  to  have  replied  to  your  wel- 
come letter  long,  long  ago,  but  have  been  so  procrasti- 
nate, & also  so  ambitiously  busy,  & had  many  ill  spells 
too.  I do  not  enjoy  strong  health  as  I am  growing  old. 
I long  to  fly  to  my  everlasting  home  with  God.  It  is 
life’s  weary  journey  for  me  to  bear  until  death  take 
place.  You  & I shall  be  happy  to  meet  dear  Miss 
Rogers  in  a hoty  home  which  is  heaven.  ...  I 
presume,  of  course,  that  you  call  on  your  poor  & lonely 
parents  very  frequently.  Who  is  with  them  in  the 
absence  of  their  dear  daughter,  E.  R.  ? I realize  how 
hard  it  is  for  them  to  miss  her  during  their  old  age. 
But  it  is  short  ere  they  will  go  to  the  glorious  world 
above.  You  may  like  to  dwell  in  their  house  & keep 
house  for  your  own,  & console  the  old  people  with  your 
society.  Pleas?  to  remember  me  kindly  to  Mr.  G.  & 
your  relatives.  I should  be  so  happy  to  call  on  you  & 
friends  in  Billerica.  Let  me  hear  from  you  as  soon  as 
you  get  my  letter.  I feel  so  tired  continually  beyond 


, LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


361 


my  strength.  I was  sickly  last  spring  until  in  Aug.  I 
was  much  more  like  my  own  self,  although  it  seems  as 
if  I might  not  live  many  years,  I feel  so  frail.  God 
cares  for  me  & I trust  in  his  loving  providence  & in  his 
tender  mercy.  I shall  be  hoping  to  see  you  soon.  I 
miss  Dr.  Howe  so  sadly  & loved  him  as  a father. 

Truly  your  loving  friend, 

Laura  Bridgman. 

One  more  incident  showing  her  kindness  of  heart 
deserves  mention.  She  was  invited  to  visit  some 
friends,  and  on  arriving  at  their  house,  found 
them  away  from  home.  On  their  return,  they  ex- 
plained what  had  seemed  to  her  discourteous,  say- 
ing they  had  been  to  visit  a little  boy,  the  son  of 
a clergyman,  who  had  lately  met  with  a sad  acci- 
dent ; while  jumping  on  a car  he  had  had  both  feet 
taken  off.  Her  sympathies  were  so  much  excited 
that  she  could  think  of  little  else.  On  returning 
home  she  interested  the  blind  pupils,  and  a contri- 
bution of  ten  dollars  was  sent  by  them  to  the  little 
sufferer,  to  assist  in  the  purchase  of  artificial  feet. 
She  wrote  to  him  a note  of  sympathy. 

Jan.  2,  1877. 

Dear  Little  Fellow, 

Whom  I pity  most  sorrowfully.  God  is  gentle  in  his 
dealings  towards  them  who  are  sorely  afflicted.  Cast- 
ing your  care  on  God  for  he  cares  for  you.  Be  of  good 
cheer.  I hope  that  you  may  be  blessed  with  a kind 
providence  as  long  as  you  live.  God  will  make  your 


362 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


life  his  care.  You  will  promote  much  happiness  of 
others  by  the  Holy  Spirit  You  will  be  a devout  disci- 
ple of  our  blest  Savior.  He  will  redeem  you  from  evil 
& cleanse  you  with  His  precious  blood.  I heard  of  you 
with  grief  & sympathy,  last  evening.  I came  to  visit 
Mr.  & Mrs.  Ileywood  yesterday.  I wish  you  many 
happy  new  Years. 


Laura  D.  Bridgman-. 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


363 


CHAPTER  XX. 

In  a life  so  quiet  as  that  of  Laura  has  been  for 
the  last  eight  years,  there  is  little  to  furnish  fur- 
ther material  for  the  journalist.  She  spends  the 
summer  and  early  autumn  with  her  relatives  and 
friends  in  New  Hampshire,  and  for  the  remainder 
of  the  year  her  home  is  at  the  Institution,  in  one 
of  the  four  cottages  which  are  occupied  by  the 
blind  girls.  Here  she  is  under  the  kind  care  of 
Miss  Wood,  and  enjoys  making  herself  useful  by 
assisting  in  some  light  work  about  the  house. 
Her  room  has  a window  towards  the  south,  and 
she  often  dates  her  letters  "Sunny  Home,”  show- 
ing her  appreciation  of  the  blessing  of  sunshine. 
She  takes  pleasure  in  decorating  it  with  the  little 
things  which  have  been  given  her,  and  in  asking 
her  intimate  friends  to  make  their  visits  there,  so 
that  she  can  display  them. 

Her  habits  of  industry  which  were  formed  in 
childhood  are  a blessing  to  her  now,  and  she  never 
finds  time  hang  heavily  upon  her  hands. 

Through  the  kindness  of  friends  she  has  received 
gifts  of  books  and  magazines  printed  in  raised 


364 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


type  at  the  different  presses  of  the  country,  and 
these,  with  the  Bible  and  Memoir  of  Dr.  Howe, 
form  her  little  library,  and  are  a source  of  great 
enjoyment  to  her.  She  has  made  many  friends, 
chiefly  ladies  who  have  been  so  much  interested 
in  her  as  to  learn  to  converse  in  the  manual  alpha- 
bet. Occasional  calls  from  them  and  an  exten- 
sive correspondence  add  much  to  her  pleasure. 
She  sews,  knits,  crochets  lace,  mats,  and  other 
fancy  articles,  which  she  sells  to  visitors  with  her 
autograph  attached,  thereby  increasing  her  in- 
come. 

Her  appearance  is  that  of  a very  delicate  per- 
son, and  she  impresses  all  who  see  her  by  her  ap- 
parent frailness,  though  for  the  last  year  she  has 
been  in  better  health  than  for  some  time  previous. 
The  regular  life  she  leads,  with  its  freedom  from 
care  and  anxiety  and  excitement,  has  given  her 
strength  to  overcome  sickness  which  threatened  to 
be  serious.  She  has  never  been  a sound  sleeper. 

Some  of  her  expressions  previously  quoted  may 
lead  the  reader  to  think  that  she  is  inclined  to 
despondency,  and  thus  convey  a false  impression 
of  her  mental  condition. 

It  is  true  that  she  has,  even  from  the  days  of 
her  childhood,  enjoyed  telling  of  her  illnesses, 
and  receiving  the  sympathy  of  her  friends,  but 
with  so  few  subjects  for  thought  as  she  has  in 
comparison  with  others,  it  would  be  remarkable 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


365 


if  her  own  feelings  did  not  form  the  first  topic  of 
conversation.  She  turns  afterward  to  other  sub- 
jects of  mutual  interest,  enjoys  a joke,  and 
appreciates  a witty  remark. 

She  speaks  sometimes  of  the  long  walks  we  used 
to  take,  and  the  thought  that  she  has  not  equal 
strength  now  causes  her  to  utter  a sound  indicating 
regret,  but  she  does  not  seem  to  dwell  upon  it,  or 
to  be  made  unhappy  by  it  for  any  length  of  time. 

The  remainder  of  her  life  will  be  shadowed  by 
her  late  bereavement,  but  we  have  seen  in  her 
letters  the  light  of  her  earnest  faith  shining 
through  the  darkness. 

Those  who  have  constant  intercourse  with  her 
bear  testimony  to  the  great  change  that  has  taken 
place  in  her  character.  She  never  manifests 
anger  now  and  is  always  kind  and  gentle.  In 
speaking  with  me  lately  of  her  former  experience 
and  of  the  frequency  with  which  she  gave  way  to 
passion,  she  said,  "Sometimes  I feel  tempted  to 
anger,  but  I can  resist  it  now.  God  gives  me 
strength.” 

She  has  written,  within  a few  years,  two  compo- 
sitions which  she  calls  "poems.”  The  first  is  on 
"Light  and  Darkness.”  As  she  has  access  to  very 
little  poetry  in  the  books  she  can  read  herself, 
and  she  seems  not  to  have  aimed  at  any  imitation 
of  this,  we  think  she  must  have  taken  the  general 
idea  from  some  parts  of  the  Bible. 


366 


LAURA  BRIDGMAN \ 


Light  represents  da} . 

Light  is  more  brilliant  than  ruby,  even  diamond. 

Light  is  whiter  than  snow. 

Darkness  is  night  like. 

It  looks  as  black  as  iron. 

Darkness  is  a sorrow. 

Joy  is  a thrilling  rapture. 

Light  yields  a shooting  joy  through  the  human  (heart) . 

Light  is  sweet  as  honey,  but 

Darkness  is  bitter  as  salt,  and  more  than  vinegar. 

Light  is  finer  than  gold  and  even  finest  gold. 

Joy  is  a real  light. 

Joy  is  a blazing  flame. 

Darkness  is  frosty. 

A good  sleep  is  a white  curtain, 

A bad  sleep  is  a black  curtain. 

In  bringing  these  notes  to  a close,  let  me  ex- 
press the  hope  that  they  will  be  the  means  of 
gaining  for  Laura  many  appreciative  friends.  Few 
lives  of  men  or  women  could  bear  the  test  of  such 
scrutiny  as  hers  has  received,  which  indeed  would 
not  have  been  justifiable  for  the  satisfaction  of 
curiosity,  but  only  for  its  value  to  the  scholar. 

In  her  declining  years  she  will  be  tenderly  cared 
for  by  those  to  whose  trust  she  was  committed  by 
him  who  was  so  many  years  her  friend  and  protec- 
tor ; and  when  the  arm  of  an  earthly  friend  can  no 
longer  be  her  support  and  guide,  and  she  walks 
" through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,”  may 
she  " fear  no  evil,”  but  rest  on  the  arm  of  Him 


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LAURA  BRIDGMAN. 


367 


whom  she  sincerely  loves  and  who  has  promised  to 

be  her  leader  to  the  heavenly  home  of  which  she 

writes  in  the  following  poem  : — 

HOLY  HOME. 

Heaven  is  holy  home. 

Holy  home  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting. 

Holy  home  is  summerly. 

I pass  this  dark  home  toward  a light  home. 

Earthly  home  shall  perish, 

But  holy  home  shall  endure  forever. 

Earthly  home  is  winter}7. 

Hard  it  is  for  us  to  appreciate  the  radiance  of  holy 
home  because  of  blindness  of  our  minds. 

How  glorious  holy  home  is,  and  still  more  than  a beam 
of  sun ! 

By  the  finger  of  God  my  eyes  and  ears  shall  be  opened. 

The  string  of  my  tongue  shall  be  loosed. 

With  sweeter  joys  in  heaven  I shall  hear  and  speak  and 
see. 

With  glorious  rapture  in  holy  home  for  me  to  hear  the 
Angels  sing  and  perform  upon  instruments. 

Also  that  I can  behold  the  beauty  of  Heavenly  home. 

Jesus  Christ  has  gone  to  prepare  a place  for  those  who 
love  and  believe  him. 

My  zealous  hope  is  that  sinners  might  turn  themselves 
from  the  power  of  darkness  unto  light  divine. 

When  I die,  God  will  make  me  happy. 

In  Heaven  music  is  sweeter  than  honey,  and  finer  than 
a diamond. 


L.  D.  Bridgman. 


APPENDIX. 


Oliver  Caswell’s  first  lesson. 

For  the  benefit  of  any  future  case  of  similar  afflic- 
tion, I have  thought  it  desirable  to  describe  minutely 
the  first  lesson  given  to  Oliver  Caswell,  a deaf,  dumb, 
and  blind  boy  who  entered  the  Institution  at  South 
Boston,  Sept.  30,  1841,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  hav- 
ing lost  his  senses  when  three  years  and  four  months 
old  by  scarlet  fever.  Lucy  Reed,  also  deaf,  dumb,  and 
blind,  had  been  received  in  the  previous  February,  but 
remained  only  five  months,  having  returned  to  her 
home  two  months  previous  to  Oliver’s  arrival. 

Not  having  become  acquainted  with  Laura  until  she 
had  been  two  years  and  a half  under  instruction,  I was 
much  interested  in  watching  Lucy’s  progress,  the 
course  of  training  being  the  same  as  that  which  was 
adopted  for  Laura,  and  which  has  been  described  in 
the  preceding  pages.  Four  months  elapsed  before 
Lucy  attached  any  significance  to  the  process  she  was 
required  to  go  through  several  times  a day,  of  feeling 
the  letters  in  raised  type  composing  the  various  labels, 
which  were  placed  upon  a few  common  objects,  and 
moving  her  fingers  in  certain  directions  to  correspond 
with  them.  Her  ungoverned  will  and  stolid  indiffer- 
ence were  undoubtedly  serious  obstacles  to  her  progress, 
but  it  had  taken  more  than  two  months  before  Laura 


24 


370 


APPENDIX. 


received  the  idea,  although  she  was  a most  interested 
scholar.  After  a careful  study  of  our  work  with  Lucy, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  the  introduction  of  the  raised  let- 
ters at  the  beginning  of  the  training  was  entirely  use- 
less, and  resulted  only  in  a serious  complication  of  the 
whole  matter.  No  one  would  teach  a little  child  to 
read  until  it  had  learned  to  talk,  so  the  deaf  and  blind 
child  should  only  be  taught  to  spell  the  names  of  ob- 
jects on  the  fingers,  and  not  to  read  the  raised  letters 
at  the  same  time  ; the  attention  being  thus  concentrated 
on  this  one  point,  I believe  the  desired  result  would  be 
far  more  speedily  attained. 

I had  often  expressed  the  wish  that  one  more  such 
child  might  be  brought  to  us,  that  my  theory  might  be 
tested,  and  on  this  Sept.  30th  I was  made  happy  by  a 
summons  from  Dr.  Howe,  and  the  announcement  that 
such  a child  had  arrived,  and  I might  begin  my  experi- 
ment at  once,  while  he  was  absent  in  the  city. 

That  there  need  be  nothing  to  distract  attention,  I led 
the  boy  into  a room  where  we  could  be  undisturbed, 
and  seated  myself  beside  him  upon  a sofa.  He  first 
wished  to  find  what  manner  of  person  I was,  and  I 
gave  him  all  the  opportunity  he  desired  to  examine  the 
arrangement  of  my  hair,  to  feel  of  my  face,  dress,  chain, 
breastpin,  rings,  etc.,  until  his  curiosity^was  satisfied. 
Next  he  examined  the  sofa  on  which  we  were  seated, 
and  then  rested  quietly.  Now  was  my  time  to  attract 
his  attention.  I led  him  to  a door,  and  placed  his  hand 
upon  the  key  which  was  in  the  lock.  He  made  the  mo-  % 
tion  of  turning  it,  nodding  with  a quizzical  look,  all 
which  meant  plainty,  Yes,  I know  what  a key  is  for,  did 
you  suppose  I did  not  ? Taking  the  key  from  the  door, 


APPENDIX . 


371 


we  returned  to  the  sofa.  Now  he  was  curious  to  know 
what  was  to  come  next.  I placed  his  hand  upon  the 
key,  then  lifting  it,  moved  the  fingers  in  the  positions 
for  the  letters  k-e-y,  repeating  it  several  times.  Then 
I placed  my  hand  in  his  and  let  him  feel  that  I moved 
my  fingers  in  the  same  way.  B}r  tapping  his  hand  he 
understood  that  he  was  to  repeat  it  himself ; he  succeed- 
ed in  making  k,  but  needed  assistance  on  the  other 
letters,  which  was  given  by  letting  him  feel  me  make 
them  again.  On  the  second  trial  he  spelled  the  word 
without  assistance.  The  expression  on  his  face  now 
indicated,  I wonder,  what  all  this  means.  Next  I took 
a mug  from  a table  near  by,  and  placed  it  in  his  hand. 
Again  he  nodded  and  raised  it  to  his  lips,  tipping  it  as 
a sign  of  drinking.  Lajdng  his  hand  upon  it,  as  I had 
done  before  with  the  key,  I moved  his  fingers  to  make 
the  letters  m-u-g,  repeating  it  with  my  own  fingers,  his 
hand  resting  on  mine  so  that  he  could  feel  the  motions, 
and  then  asked  him  by  a sign  to  do  it  himself.  After 
three  efforts  he  was  successful,  and  showed  pleasure  in 
receiving  a pat  upon  his  head  as  a sign  of  approbation. 
Then  I returned  to  the  key.  He  had  forgotten  those 
letters,  but  after  feeling  me  make  them  once,  succeeded 
in  spelling  it.  Turning  back  to  the  mug,  he  remembered 
two  letters,  and  after  a few  trials  more,  spelled  each 
correctly  without  assistance.  All  this  time  his  face 
wore  a puzzled  look  mingled  with  indifference,  which 
would  perhaps  have  triumphed  at  this  point  but  for  his 
spirit  of  obedience,  which  prompted  him  to  do  as  he 
perceived  I.  wished.  These  two  words  learned,  he  sat 
back  upon  the  sofa  as  if  to  say,  This  is  enough  of  such 
nonsense.  Just  then  I drew  a pin  from  my  dress  and 


372 


APPENDIX. 


handed  it  to  him.  He  made  the  sign  of  sticking  it  into 
his  coat,  and  listlessly  returned  it  to  me.  I lifted  his 
hand,  which  he  had  lain  quietly  on  his  knee,  and 
spelled  with  my  fingers  p-i-n.  With  a nervous  movement 
and  an  expression  of  face  quite  unlike  anything  he 
had  exhibited  before,  he  tapped  my  hand,  showing  his 
wish  that  I should  repeat  it,  and  then,  without  waiting 
to  make  the  letters  himself,  with  a look  of  intense  ear- 
nestness, he  sprung  from  the  sofa  and  drew  me  to  the 
table,  placing  his  hands  upon  it,  and  then  rapping  my 
fingers.  As  I made  the  letters  t-a-b-l-e,  he  perceived 
that  they  were  unlike  those  he  had  learned  for  the  key, 
mug,  and  pin.  His  countenance  became  radiant.  He  led 
me  rapidly  about  the  room,  putting  my  hands  on  differ- 
ent objects,  and  feeling  me  spell  the  names.  A half- 
hour  had  passed  since  we  took  the  key  from  the  door, 
and  he  had  received  the  idea  which  it  had  taken  four 
months  to  give  to  Lucy  Reed  and  nearly  three  months 
to  Laura.  The  success  of  the  experiment  was  far  be- 
yond my  expectations.  Had  we  saved  a month’s  time 
it  would  have  been  a great  gain  ; but  the  work  was  done, 
when  I supposed  it  only  commenced.  Once  having 
received  the  idea  that  objects  have  names,  and  that  by 
movements  of  our  fingers  we  can  communicate  them, 
the  remaining  work  is  simply  to  acquire  a knowledge  of 
those  movements.  In  teaching  a deaf,  dumb,  and 
blind  person,  the  Frenchman’s  maxim  is  eminently 
true,  “ C’est  le  premier  pas  qui  coute.” 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  selecting  the  words  to  be 
taught,  care  was  taken  that  they  should  be  as  short  as 
possible,  and  that  no  letter  used  in  the  name  of  one  ob- 
ject should  be  repeated  in  that  of  another.  This  is 


APPENDIX. 


373 


very  important,  as  the  first  idea  which  the  mind  receives 
is  probably  the  difference  in  the  words,  and  by  making 
any  part  of  them  similar  we  make  this  less  striking. 

Let  no  one  who  undertakes  a similar  work  be  dis- 
couraged, if,  in  following  the  steps  above  described,  it 
takes  weeks  or  even  months  to  attain  the  desired  result, 
but  in  no  case  can  the  labels  be  of  assistance. 


